Document	Document Title
US07675923B2	Home network bridge-based communications method and apparatus A privately addressed home network bridge is provided for each of two privately addressed home networks. These bridges couple to corresponding gateways for each of the networks. A network tunnel connection is established between the two bridges via the gateways and an intervening publicly addressed network. At least one, and preferably both, of the home network bridges then serve as a proxy/router to facilitate an exchange of messages as between network devices of the two privately addressed home networks. Pursuant to a preferred approach the home network bridges use a mapping technique to correlate private addresses as used in the two privately addressed networks.
US07675922B2	System and method for providing a universal communications port with computer-telephony interface A computing system is equipped with one or more ports, each of which includes a plurality of coupler lines configured to engage connectors that may be associated with different types of external services and/or devices, including public switched telephone networks, Ethernet networks, ISDN networks, and/or telephone devices. Upon detecting a connection to a port, a controller evaluates at least one electrical property of the lines of the port. Based on the evaluation, the controller determines if the port is engaged with a known type of service or device. When the type of service or device is known, the controller selectively switches a plurality of port lines to appropriate communications subsystems to enable the computing system to communicate with the device or service. For example, a conventional telephone device can then be used as an audio input/output device for communication over the Internet rather than over a public switched telephone network.
US07675918B2	Hash-based preemption Methods and systems for preemption in a network having a core device with at least one egress interface are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes performing flow-based hash utilizing a plurality of hash-buckets each set to a first state or a second state and computing a load based on a rate measurement that excludes flows which hash into hash-buckets having a state set to the second state. The computed load is compared to a preemption threshold and if the computed load exceeds the preemption threshold, the state of at least one of the hash-buckets is changed from the first state to the second state. An action, such as dropping all packets or marking all packets, is performed on flows hashing in a hash-bucket in the second state.
US07675903B2	Dynamic contact list management system and method A dynamic contact list management (DCLM) method and system operable in a communications network environment. In one embodiment, upon receiving a communication request from an originating party over a first network towards a networked party, a query is generated for determining and locating an IM address associated with the originating party. Upon establishing presence awareness between the originating party and the networked party, the IM address of the originating party is added to a contact list database associated with the networked party. The IM address, which is persistent at least for the duration of a first communication session established responsive to the communication request, may be used for engaging in a second communication session between the parties.
US07675902B2	Method for realizing signaling agent based on MEGACO protocol A method for realizing signaling agent in a network system, the network system comprises media gateways and a media gateway controller in different networks, and at least one agent equipment on a boundary of different networks; each media gateway under the same media gateway controller has a unique message identifier of MEGACO signaling, the media gateway controller distinguishes different media gateways on the basis of the message identifier; the message identifier of the media gateway includes information of the media gateway; the message identifier of the media gateway controller includes information of the media gateway controller and the media gateway, the agent equipment utilizes the message identifier to realize signaling traversing between the media gateway and the media gateway controller. In the present invention, the agent equipment does not need to be configured with any information about the media gateway, and the media gateway controller does not need to recognize the existence of the agent equipment between itself and the media gateway, which facilitates realizing services on the media gateway controller and administration.
US07675896B2	Communication apparatus and control method thereof The claimed invention is directed to a communication apparatus connectable to a plurality of networks, which comprises a setting unit that adjusts and setting, in accordance with a communication condition of each of the plurality of networks, a communication hold period in which the communication apparatus does not communicate with any one of the plurality of networks; a notification unit that notifies each of the plurality of networks of the communication hold period set by said setting unit; and a stop unit that stops communication with the plurality of networks on the basis of the setting of the communication hold period, wherein said setting unit sets the communication hold period of each network so as to overlap portions of the communication hold periods of the plurality of networks without any overlap of communication participation times of the plurality of networks.
US07675880B2	Power estimating method in wireless system A system and method for estimating power of a wireless system simultaneously estimates and displays a code domain power and a time domain power in the system which may be a wireless communication system that mixes TDMA and CDMA methods such as WCDMA TDD and TD-SCDMA. The method includes designating a section where an output power is to be estimated, estimating a time domain power in the designated section; estimating a code domain power in the designated section, and displaying the estimated time domain power and the code domain power on a display unit.
US07675876B2	Transport demultiplexor with bit maskable filter The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an improved transport demultiplexor that can receive and filter different data types before sending the data to system memory. The preferred embodiment provides a string comparator to facilitate real time filtering of continuous incoming data before loading the data into system memory. The string comparator preferably uses a bit-maskable matching filter that filters system data in real time as the data is being delivered to system memory. When data matching the filter is located, the destination address of that data is determined and delivered to the processor. This allows the processor to quickly locate the desired data and thus facilitates the real time processing of that data.
US07675875B2	Data loss control in a push to communicate network An audio data retransmission method in a push to communicate (PTx) terminal for transmitting data by pressing a PTx key is provided. The method comprises transmitting data using a transmitting PTx terminal; storing the data in a buffer; and retransmitting the data when receiver requests retransmission due to a loss in communications.
US07675874B2	Peer-to-peer instant messaging and chat system Disclosed is a method for controlling access to a chat room using a peer-to-peer (“P2P”) network. The method includes the steps of sending a search request to a first set of nodes in the P2P network, the first set of nodes neighboring a node requesting the search and including at least one node; forwarding the request to a second set of nodes neighboring the at least one node in the first set, the second set of nodes including at least one node; comparing the search request to a local profile topic list in each node in the first and second sets; receiving a zero or more responses from nodes in the first and second sets; and establishing a network connection between the node requesting the search and at least one of the nodes responding to the request to form a community.
US07675873B2	Enhanced IP-voice conferencing A system and method are provided for providing users of voice conferencing with indications of the quality perceived by other users of the voice conferencing system. A voice conferencing bridge measures the quality of the each user's channel, and provides real-time feedback to users whose channel quality is inadequate and that other users cannot hear them clearly. The feedback may be in the form of in-band or out-of-band signals, indicating for example that the user should speak louder, should mute while off-line, or warning the user that his or her channel may be muted automatically. The last option is particularly useful if a participant has temporarily left the conference and is playing music or hold tones while absent.
US07675863B2	Method and apparatus for wireless communication in a mesh network using connectivity assessment at multiple frequencies A method and apparatus for communication in a wireless sensor network. In one embodiment, one or more routers in a network may be available for communication with one or more star nodes at a randomized time and/or frequency. A connectivity assessment, which may be performed at several different frequencies and/or times, may be performed to evaluate the quality of communications between devices in the network. Primary and secondary communication relationships may be formed between devices to provide for system redundancy. One or more proxies may be maintained where each proxy includes a status of one or more devices in the network, e.g., one or more star nodes or routers. Proxies may be used to handle information requests and/or status change requests, e.g., a proxy may be requested to change a communication relationship between devices in the network and may generate command signals to cause the corresponding devices to make the change.
US07675861B2	Active probe target management A technique manages targets to which probe packets are sent from a source of a computer network. The novel target management technique dynamically selects an optimal set of valid targets for a particular (monitored) prefix of the computer network. Specifically, one or more targets are selected from a pool of possible learned and configured targets to be used as representatives of the monitored prefix. Probe packets are sent from the source to the selected targets for the duration of an evaluation period. Targets that do not respond to the probe packets during the evaluation period are invalid and deselected, and if available, an unused target is selected from the pool of possible targets to replace each non-responding target for a next evaluation period. Invalid learned targets are discarded, while invalid configured targets are returned to the pool of possible targets for potential re-selection in a later evaluation period.
US07675859B2	Transmission apparatus and transmission system A link aggregation function and maintenance function by MPLS OAM. Identical entry information is stored in plural circuits IF which perform a LA setting. In this way, multiplexing to the same LSP is possible even with different IF. The first network IF is assumed to be OAM ACT, and the second network IF is set to OAM SBY (SBY). OAM frame insertion is performed only by an OAM ACT port. In this way, in an opposite MPLS transmission apparatus, it is possible to prevent CV frame reception above a specified number of frames. Further, a switch forwarding table is set to forward frames from the network side to the first network IF of OAM ACT. The second network IF which was set to OAM SBY does not perform fault detection by CV reception. In this way, incorrect detection of faults due to non-reception of OAM can be prevented.
US07675857B1	Method and apparatus to avoid network congestion One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that avoids network congestion. During operation, the system can detect an onset of congestion in a first queue at a first node. Next, the first node can generate a first control-message, wherein the first control-message contains a congestion-point identifier which is associated with the first queue. The first node can then send the first control-message to a second node, which can cause the second node to delay sending a second message to the first node, wherein the second message is expected to be routed through the first queue at the first node. Next, the second node may propagate the control-message to a third node which may cause the third node to delay sending a third message to the second node, wherein the third message is expected to be routed through the first queue at the first node.
US07675847B2	Hardware implementation of a programmable FFT based on a half length FFT core A method of designing a IEEE 802.11n modem starting from a IEEE 802.11a/g modem using a programmable FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) based on a half length FFT core, modifies data in a reception chain implemented in a IEEE 802.11n standard application. The method uses a N/2 FFT which is validated, along with a wrapper; and, extends and applies the validated N/2 FFT, (e.g., 64 FFT) to a N FFT (e.g., 128 FFT) by splitting the N FFT into two smaller first and second FFTs. The first FFT is applied to selected data samples (e.g., even samples) from the N FFT and the second FFT is applied to remaining data samples (e.g., odd samples) from the N FFT to complete data-handling, wherein the extending step is based on Danielson-Lanczos formula using a reduced number of Cordics. The method is also suitable for IFFT computations in IEEE 802.11n MIMO OFDM modem designs.
US07675845B2	Method and apparatus for space-time coding and decoding The present invention relates to methods for space-time coding and decoding in a wireless communication system with multiple antennas including: generating an orthogonal matrix according to signals to be transmitted; generating a coefficient matrix corresponding to the orthogonal matrix according to channel status information received; and generating a transmission matrix according to the orthogonal matrix and the coefficient matrix; performing a weight-combination for received signals according to channel status information in a receiver; and obtaining estimations of transmitted signals corresponding to the received signals by performing detection for the received signals. The present invention also provides apparatuses for space-time coding and decoding. By applying the present invention, the bit error rate of a system is reduced and bit error performance of the system is improved. And the transmission rate of the system is increased remarkably when there are more than one complex signals to be transmitted.
US07675821B2	Deployment of seismic sensor An arrangement for the deployment of seismic sensor units, such as sensor nodes (24), on the seabed includes a frame structure that is adapted to carry a container (11) for containment of a data registration unit and additional auxiliary equipment for the sensor node. The arrangement has supports (12, 13) that can rest against the seabed, and an attachment means (17) for a lifting hook, for raising and lowering by means of a crane. There is a holder (20) for the sensor node (24) that can be positioned on the seabed and which is connected to the container through a signal cable (32). A releasable attachment means (22) holds the sensor node (24) in a downwardly extending position with respect to the supports (12, 13). The attachment means (22) is located with a horizontal distance from the container (11). A latch mechanism (25) for the attachment means (22) is adapted to release the sensor node (24).
US07675817B2	Hydrocarbon saturation determination using acoustic velocities obtained through casing Compressional and shear velocities of earth formations are measured through casing. The determined compressional and shear velocities are used in a two component mixing model to provides improved quantitative values for the solid, the dry frame, and the pore compressibility. These are used in determination of hydrocarbon saturation.
US07675815B2	Time reverse reservoir localization A method and system for processing synchronous array seismic data includes acquiring synchronous passive seismic data from a plurality of sensors to obtain synchronized array measurements. A reverse-time data process is applied to the synchronized array measurements to obtain a plurality of dynamic particle parameters associated with subsurface locations. These dynamic particle parameters are stored in a form for display. Maximum values of the dynamic particle parameters may be interpreted as reservoir locations. The dynamic particle parameters may be particle displacement values, particle velocity values, particle acceleration values or particle pressure values. The sensors may be three-component sensors. Zero-phase frequency filtering of different ranges of interest may be applied. The data may be resampled to facilitate efficient data processing.
US07675813B2	Methods and systems for detecting arrivals of interest Methods and systems for taking measurements related to subterranean formations. The methods and systems provide robust, reliable first arrival data for component signals of interest, which may be used to estimate formation slowness, characterize formation slowness zones, or act as an input to other processes. The methods and systems are capable of automatically providing good first arrival data based on signals received without any human interaction, and without setting or changing any parameters.
US07675810B2	Semiconductor memory device An internal signal generator for use in a semiconductor memory device includes an internal read address generation unit and an internal write address generation unit. The internal read address generation unit generates a plurality of read delay addresses by delaying an external address for a predetermined latency shorter than an additive latency set by the semiconductor memory device and selects one of the read delay addresses to thereby output an internal read address. The internal write address generation unit generates a plurality of write delay addresses by delaying the internal read address for a preset latency shorter than a column address strobe (CAS) latency set by the semiconductor memory device and selects one of the write delay addresses to thereby output an internal write address.
US07675806B2	Low voltage memory device and method thereof A device is disclosed having a low-voltage memory device. The device includes a first memory having a first memory topology and a second memory having a second memory topology, with both memories located in an integrated circuit. The first memory is a relatively high-density memory device, capable of storing large amounts of data relative to the second memory. The second memory is a low-voltage memory device capable of being accessed at low-voltages relative to the voltage at which the first memory can be accessed. Accordingly, the second memory is accessible when the integrated circuit is placed in a low-voltage mode of operation, which may represent a data retention state (sleep state) for the first memory or other portions of the integrated circuit. Thus, the device is able to store large amounts of data in the high density memory in a normal or active mode of operation, and also have access to the low-voltage memory during the low-voltage mode of operation.
US07675798B2	Sense amplifier control circuit and semiconductor device using the same A sense amplifier control circuit which can be used in a semiconductor device includes an enable signal generator for decoding a plurality of internal commands, to output a first enable signal and a second enable signal which are enabled in an active mode of a semiconductor device, a first driving control signal generator for generating a first driving control signal adapted to control a driving period of a pull-down source line of a sense amplifier included in the semiconductor device, a second driving control signal generator for comparing a voltage level of a pull-up source line of the sense amplifier with a predetermined internal voltage, and generating a second driving control signal which is enabled when the voltage level of the pull-up source line is higher than the internal voltage, to control the driving period of the pull-up source line, and a third driving control signal generator for generating a third driving control signal which is disabled in response to enabling of the second driving control signal, to control an over-driving period of the pull-up source line.
US07675797B2	CAS latency circuit and semiconductor memory device including the same Embodiments of the invention provide a column address strobe (CAS) latency circuit that generates a stable latency signal in a high-speed semiconductor memory device, and a semiconductor memory device including the CAS latency circuit. The CAS latency circuit may include an internal read command signal generator and a latency clock generator coupled to a latency signal generator. In an embodiment of the invention, the latency signal generator outputs a stable latency signal by shifting an internal read signal output from the internal read command signal generator based on latency control clocks output from the latency clock generator.
US07675789B2	Programmable heavy-ion sensing device for accelerated DRAM soft error detection Aspects of the invention relate to a programmable heavy-ion sensing device for accelerated DRAM soft error detection. Design of a DRAM-based alpha particle sensing apparatus is preferred to be used as an accelerated on-chip SER test vehicle. The sensing apparatus is provided with programmable sensing margin, refresh rate, and supply voltage to achieve various degree of SER sensitivity. In addition, a dual-mode DRAM array is proposed so that at least a portion of the array can be used to monitor high-energy particle activities during soft-error detection (SED) mode.
US07675786B2	Method of operating a semiconductor memory device having a recessed control gate electrode A semiconductor memory device may include a semiconductor substrate, a control gate electrode recessed in the semiconductor substrate, a storage node layer between the control gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, a tunneling insulating layer between the storage node layer and the semiconductor substrate, a blocking insulating layer between the storage node layer and the control gate electrode, and first and second channel regions surrounding the control gate electrode and separated by a pair of opposing separating insulating layers. A method of operating the semiconductor memory device may include programming data in the storage node layer by charge tunneling through the blocking insulating layer, thus achieving relatively high reliability and efficiency.
US07675776B2	Bit map control of erase block defect list in a memory Systems and methods that facilitate bad block management in a memory device that comprises nonvolatile memory are presented. One or more memory blocks of a memory device are each associated with one or more additional, dedicated bits that facilitate indicating whether the associated memory block is defective. These additional bits, called bad block bits, can be stored in a hardware-based storage mechanism within the memory device. Once a defect is detected in a memory block, at least one of the associated bad block bits can be set to indicate that the memory block is defective. If at least one of the bad block bits associated with a memory block indicates a memory block is defective, access to the memory block can be prevented.
US07675773B2	Semiconductor memory, test method of semiconductor memory and system An address switch circuit receives a row address signal supplied to a first address terminal group and a column address signal supplied to a second address terminal group. Further, the address switch circuit receives the row address signal supplied to the second address terminal group and thereafter receives the column address signal supplied to the second address terminal group and supplies the received row address signal and the received column address signal to the row decoder and the column decoder during a second operation mode. The number of semiconductor memories that are tested at once can be increased by executing an operation test of the semiconductor memories in the second operation mode. In addition, it becomes possible to test a semiconductor memory using test assets for other semiconductor memories. Consequently, the test efficiency can be improved, and the test cost can be reduced.
US07675772B2	Multilevel memory cell operation One or more embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, and systems for operating non-volatile multilevel memory cells. One method embodiment includes programming a memory cell to one of a number of different threshold voltage (Vt) levels, each level corresponding to a program state. The method includes programming a reference cell to a Vt level at least as great as an uppermost Vt level of the number of different Vt levels, performing a read operation on the reference cell, and determining a number of read reference voltages used to determine a particular program state of the memory cell based on the read operation performed on the reference cell.
US07675764B2	Power converter employing integrated magnetics with a current multiplier rectifier and method of operating the same A power converter having input and output nodes and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a switching circuit including first, second and third active phase legs. Each of the first, second and third active legs includes a first switch coupled to one of the input nodes and a second switch coupled to another of the input nodes and has a common switching node therebetween. The power converter further includes a magnetic device including first, second and third primary windings, and first, second and third secondary windings. The first, second and third primary windings are coupled to the common switching node of the first, second and third active phase legs, respectively. The power converter still further includes a rectifier including first, second and third rectifier elements interposed between the first, second and third secondary windings, respectively, and one of the output nodes.
US07675762B2	Multi-voltage power supply A multi-voltage power supply includes a transformer, a first output circuit to generate a first output voltage using a voltage transferred to a secondary winding of the transformer, and a first output voltage controller to control a voltage supplied to the primary winding of the transformer according to the first output voltage. The multi-voltage power supply includes second through Nth output circuits to generate second through Nth output voltages using the voltage transferred to the secondary winding of the transformer, and second through Nth output voltage controllers performing control in order to linearly output the second through Nth output voltages by feeding back the second through Nth output voltages. Accordingly, multiple (at least two) output circuits, which are on the secondary winding side of the transformer, to realize multiple output voltages can be independently controlled, and in particular, by linearly controlling the multiple output circuits, the multiple output voltages can be stably controlled regardless of the number of output voltages.
US07675758B2	Power converter with an adaptive controller and method of operating the same A controller for a power converter, and method of operating the same. The controller improves power converter operating efficiency by regulating an internal power converter operating characteristic depending on a value of a power converter parameter measured after a manufacturing step, or an environmental parameter, preferably employing a table with entries dependent on the parameter value. The internal operating characteristic may be an internal bus voltage, a voltage level of a drive signal for a power switch, a number of paralleled power switches selectively enabled to conduct, or a basic switching frequency of the power converter. The controller may regulate an internal operating characteristic of the power converter using a functional relationship dependent on the parameter value. The environmental parameter may be received as a signal from an external source. The parameter measured after a manufacturing step may be a parameter measured from representative power converter(s).
US07675753B2	Mounting apparatus for heat sink A mounting apparatus for mounting a heat sink on a board, includes a first locking hole defined in the heat sink, a second locking hole defined in the board, and a locking member. The locking member includes a base and a rod. The base defines a hole. A bottom of the base forms a pair of separated elastic claws around the hole. The elastic claws are inserted through the first and second locking holes. The rod includes an expanded portion. The rod slides in the hole of the base with the expanded portion located inbetween the claws to expand the claws outwards to be larger than the second locking hole to lock the locking member on the board and to mount the heat sink on the board.
US07675752B2	Electronic apparatus According to one embodiment, a heat sink includes first and second fin units. Fins of the first fin unit are provided with a through-hole part in which a heat pipe is inserted. Fins of the second fin unit are provided with a cutout part cut out to avoid the heat pipe. The fins of the second fin unit are inserted in spaces between the fins of the first fin unit. The fins of the second fin unit reach to a region in which the fins of the second fin unit overlap the heat pipe in the first fin unit.
US07675750B1	Apparatus and methods for cooling networks switches The disclosed embodiments include a plurality of plenums for distributing cooling air throughout the switch. The switch is divided into separate cooling domains. Each PCB receives a separate supply of cooling air, so that no PCB is located upstream or downstream from another PCB. The present embodiments thus eliminate the problem of stack rise, which can decrease switch performance.
US07675748B2	Disk array system A disk array system includes a plurality of disk drives and at least one unit box including the plurality of disk drives aligned in the thickness direction of the disk drive, each disk drive including a thin case accommodating a recording disk, a read/write head, and a driving mechanism for driving the recording disk and the read/write head, and a control board for controlling the driving mechanism, the control board being mounted on the thin case. In the disk array system, the thin case and the unit box are composed of a thermally-conductive material, the unit box includes surfaces parallel to the thickness direction of the plurality of disk drives, and at least one of the surfaces has a cold plate filled with a refrigerant. Heat generated at the disk drives is transferred to the cold plate, thereby improving cooling performance.
US07675743B2	Information processing apparatus An information processing apparatus having a display panel to display an image thereon, the apparatus including a main body casing which supports the display panel and has a shaft accommodator disposed on a rear part thereof, a stand which is coupled with a rear part of the main body casing to support the main body casing, and a pivoting hinge which pivotably couples the main body casing to the stand, the pivoting hinge comprising a hinge shaft which is formed on a plate surface of the stand and accommodated to the shaft accommodator, a pivoting bracket which is disposed in the main body casing and coupled with the hinge shaft, and an elastic pressing part which elastically presses the pivoting bracket toward an internal surface of the main body casing.
US07675740B2	Adjustable scalable rack power system and method Systems and method for installing computer equipment and power distribution equipment in facilities is provided. In one aspect, the present invention provides a power distribution rack, and uninterruptible power supply rack and a plurality of equipment racks. A plurality of power cables are run from the power distribution rack to each of the plurality of equipment racks using power cable tracks located on the roofs of the equipment racks.
US07675733B2	Multilayer capacitor There is provided a multilayer capacitor including an inner connecting conductor of at least one polarity; a plurality of first and second outer electrodes formed on a surface of the body, wherein the inner connecting conductor is connected to a corresponding one of the outer electrodes having identical polarity, a corresponding one of the inner electrodes having identical polarity to the inner connecting conductor includes a plurality of groups each including at least one of the inner electrodes, wherein the inner electrodes of the respective groups are connected to the outer electrodes having identical polarity that are different from one another for each of the groups and electrically connected to the inner connecting conductor through the connected outer electrode.
US07675724B2	Electrostatic discharge protection device for mixed voltage interface An electrostatic discharge protection circuit that includes at least two transistors connected in a stacked configuration, a first diffusion region of a first dopant type shared by two adjacent transistors, and a second diffusion region of a second dopant type formed in the first diffusion region. A substrate-triggered site is induced into the device structure of the stacked transistors to improve ESD robustness and turn-on speed. An area-efficient layout to realize the stacked transistors is proposed. The stacked transistors may be implemented in ESD protection circuits with a mixed-voltage I/O interface, or in integrated circuits with multiple power supplies. The stacked transistors are fabricated without using a thick-gate mask.
US07675722B2	Device to protect semiconductor device from electrostatic discharge A device to protect a semiconductor device from electrostatic discharge includes a transferring unit transferring the static electricity inputted to said input/output terminal to the power line, a detecting unit sensing the potential difference between both ends of the transferring unit, located between an input/output terminal and one of the power lines, to output the detection voltage, and a discharging unit driven by said detection voltage and discharging the static electricity led to a specific power line to the other power line, and performs the discharging operation smoothly even with minute electrostatic current and a latter part of the static electricity by using the driving voltage, which is used to drive a conventional detecting unit, as the driving voltage of the ESD protection device, thereby safely protecting an internal circuit of a semiconductor device.
US07675703B2	Magnetic recording disk drive with patterned media and system for clocking write data A system and method accurately clocks write data to the discrete data blocks in a patterned media disk drive. The precise time intervals between successive timing marks in the data tracks are measured by a timing mark detector that counts the integer number of write clock cycles between successive timing marks and the fractional part of a write clock cycle by detecting the phase difference between a timing mark and a reference signal. The resulting timing error is output to a write clock compensator. The write clock is capable of generating equally spaced primary phases and phases intermediate the primary phases. The compensator includes a phase rotator that controls which write clock phase is selected for output. The value in a phase register of the compensator is used to control the phase rotator to advance or retard the write clock phase, and thus to adjust its frequency and phase so as to be synchronized for writing to the data blocks.
US07675702B2	Reduced convolution for repetitive disturbance rejection Methods according to some embodiments include writing servo patterns on a data storage medium including a plurality of timing patterns in response to phase correction values generated using a phase correction value (PCV) kernel having a length that is less than the number of timing patterns on the data storage medium.
US07675701B2	Method and apparatus for detecting servo timing marks in a magnetic disk system Detection capability of a servo timing mark (STM) is improved. Long STM is configured by pseudo-STM forming part of an AGC/PLL pattern and intrinsic STM. When a system can not recognize the intrinsic STM, it keeps a state that a sector detection window is opened, and is operated in a long STM detection mode to recognize the long STM, thereby generates an STM detection signal. After the STM detection signal has been generated, an STM detection window is closed, and the system is operated in an intrinsic STM detection mode. Since the long STM has longer bit length than the intrinsic STM, it has high discriminating power with respect to other bit patterns. Therefore, even if the sector detection window is remained to be in an opened state, bit strings of data sector, address information in a servo sector or the like is not falsely recognized.
US07675700B2	Disk drive device and method for production thereof Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic disk device and a method for production thereof, the magnetic disk device being characterized in that the magnetic disk therein permits a plurality of tracks thereon to record correction data when necessary without decreasing its storage capacity. According to one embodiment, the magnetic disk device is characterized in that the magnetic disk has the first tracks and the second tracks formed thereon, the first tracks having servo data regions arranged cyclically, with a portion of a region between them being the correction data region and the remaining regions being the user data region, and the second tracks having the servo data regions arranged cyclically, with the region between them being the user data regions, and the multiprocessing unit (MPU) switches the servo extraction timing of the position information sampler depending on whether the track for servo reproduction by the magnetic head is the first track or the second track.
US07675699B2	Patterned-media magnetic recording disk and disk drive with data zones having nondata regions near the zone boundaries A patterned-media magnetic recording disk has data islands arranged into concentric data tracks and the data tracks arranged into radially-spaced annular zones, with each zone having an inside-diameter (ID) perimeter and an outside-diameter (OD) perimeter and at least one annular nondata region near one of its perimeters. Each zone includes generally radially-directed synchronization (sync) marks that extend from the zone ID perimeter to the zone OD perimeter so as to extend into the annular nondata region or regions of the zone. In the disk drive that uses the patterned-media disks the read head and write head have an effective radial offset relative to one another, so the write head may be on a data track near a zone perimeter when the read head is located in a nondata region. The read head detects the sync marks that extend into the nondata region so that the write head can be synchronized with the data islands in the data track.
US07675688B2	Zoom lens system, optical device with zoom lens system, and method of manufacturing zoom lens system A zoom lens system comprising, in order from an object along an optical axis: a first lens group having a negative refractive power; a second lens group having a positive refractive power; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power; the following conditional expression being satisfied: 0.6
US07675687B2	Liquid lens group A liquid lens group includes two liquid lens portions and a light-pervious separator. The light pervious separator includes a first contact surface and an opposite second contact surface, which are in contact with the two liquid lens portions respectively. The liquid lens group has a wide focus range and highly compacted volume.
US07675677B2	Binoculars A pair of binoculars has lenses constituting optical filters with a transmissivity range within the wavelength range between about 650 nm and at least 800 nm and also with an additional transmissivity band within a wavelength range from about 310 nm to about 600 nm. The objects viewed with such a pair of binoculars appear as an image that is carried by a satin-finished metallic surface.
US07675670B2	Fabrication of a high fill ratio silicon spatial light modulator A method for forming an optical deflection device includes providing a semiconductor substrate comprising an upper surface region and a plurality of drive devices within one or more portions of the semiconductor substrate. The upper surface region includes one or more patterned structure regions and at least one open region to expose a portion of the upper surface region to form a resulting surface region. The method also includes forming a planarizing material overlying the resulting surface region to fill the at least one open region and cause formation of an upper planarized layer using the fill material. The method further includes forming a thickness of silicon material at a temperature of less than 300 ° C. to maintain a state of the planarizing material.
US07675659B2	Image processing apparatus, table generation apparatus, and image forming system An image processing apparatus includes: a composite unit that generates a composite parameter used for implementing a time varying variation correction processing for suppressing color variations associated with lapse of time and a spatial variation correction processing for suppressing color variations in accordance with a position in an image, on the basis of a time varying correction parameter used for the time varying variation correction processing and a spatial correction parameter used for the spatial variation correction processing; and an image correction unit that subjects input image data to the time varying variation correction processing and the spatial variation correction processing through use of the composite parameter generated by the composite unit.
US07675658B2	Method and apparatus for forming image When a monochromatic original is read, a control is effected to transfer a charge accumulated in a monochromatic photodiode array to a rear stage, and not to accumulate charges in respective color photodiode arrays. When a color original is read, a control is effected to transfer charges accumulated in the respective photodiode arrays and not to accumulate a charge in the monochromatic photodiode array.
US07675654B2	Image reading apparatus and image processing method An image reading apparatus includes a document positioning plate configured to have a document positioned thereon, a conveyance belt configured to convey the document to the document positioning plate, an image reading unit configured to read an image of the document positioned on the document positioning plate, and an image unevenness reducing unit configured to reduce image unevenness caused by the conveyance belt deflecting in a main scanning direction. The image unevenness reducing unit corrects the readout image based on correction coefficients each corresponding to a combination of a sub scanning position and a main scanning position of the image.
US07675652B2	Correcting eye color in a digital image A method is provided for correcting undesired eye color in a digital image. Color information from the digital image is used to identify an orthogonal color channel. The orthogonal color channel is a channel corresponding to a color that is orthogonal to the undesired color. Information from the orthogonal color channel is used to perform channel mixing. The channel mixing is selectively applied to the original digital image using a masking effect to retain certain portions of the original image and replace certain portions of the original image with the channel-mixed image. This method achieves natural-looking black pupils and preserves specular reflections to conceal the fact that the digital image has been corrected.
US07675644B2	Extensible framework for parsing varying formats of print stream data A method of parsing print stream data including the steps of intercepting a data file from at least a portion of the print stream data, reading at least a portion of the data file and determining if said data file is of a format having subset formats.
US07675639B2	Image forming apparatus and method of controlling the same There is provided an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the time required to resume image formation by appropriately controlling whether a stopped state transferring process is executed in a case where a printer section is in the operating state and an error that makes image formation by the image forming apparatus impossible has occurred. A CPU carries out an operating state transferring process that causes a printer section to transfer from a stopped state to an operating state and a stopped state transferring process that causes the printer section to transfer from the operating state to the stopped state. The CPU controls whether to carry out the stopped state transferring process in a case where the printer section is in the operating state and an error that makes image formation by the MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) impossible has occurred.
US07675626B2	Method of detecting drug resistant microorganisms by surface plasmon resonance system The present invention provides a method for detecting a drug resistant microorganism by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Values of SPR angle shift (V) and the drop of SPR angle shift (D) of control group (V1 and D1) and sample (V2 and D2) can determine the microorganism is drug resistant by identifying (I) ration of V1/V2 larger than 1.001, (II) ration of D1/D2 larger than 1.001 and (III) the SPR angle shift of the sample more smooth or monotonic that that of the control. The present invention further provides SPR as a device used for the method of the present invention.
US07675619B2	Micro-LiDAR velocity, temperature, density, concentration sensor A light scatter sensor includes a sensor body in which are positioned a plurality of optical fibers. The sensor body includes a surface, in one end of each of the optical fibers terminates at the surface of the sensor body. One of the optical fibers is an illumination fiber for emitting light. A plurality of second optical fibers are collection fibers for collecting scattered light signals. A light sensor processor is connected to the collection fibers to detect the scattered light signals.
US07675610B2	Photon counting, chirped AM LADAR system and related methods Ladar systems and methods are provided. One embodiment is a ladar system comprising: a chirp generator for generating a chirped waveform; a laser for transmitting a light signal toward a target, the light signal being modulated by the chirped waveform; and a photon-counting sensor for receiving a temporally-modulated photon stream corresponding to the modulated light signal being reflected from the target and toward the ladar system, the photon-counting sensor gated relative to the chirped waveform.
US07675609B2	User-worn rangefinder system and methods Embodiments of an arm-worn rangefinder device includes a rangefinder body and a switch. The rangefinder body is shaped for coupling to a user's arm and has an electronic rangefinder circuit operable to emit an energy beam directed at a selected target, to receive a reflected beam from the target, and to calculate the target's approximate range based on properties of the reflected beam and indicate the calculated approximate range to the user. The switch is coupled to the rangefinder body, and the user can use the switch to selectively actuate the rangefinder circuit.
US07675604B2	Hood for immersion lithography A lithography apparatus includes an imaging lens module; a substrate table positioned underlying the imaging lens module and configured to hold a substrate; a fluid retaining module configured to hold a fluid in a space between the imaging lens module and a substrate on the substrate stage; and a heating element configured in the fluid retaining module and adjacent to the space. The heating element includes at least two of following: a sealant insoluble to the fluid for sealing the heating element in the fluid retaining module; a sealed opening configured in one of top portion and side portion of the fluid retaining module for sealing the heating element in the fluid retaining module; and/or a non-uniform temperature compensation device configured with the heating element.
US07675597B2	Liquid crystal display and thin film transistor panel therefor A thin film transistor panel for a liquid crystal display includes a substrate, a plurality of data lines formed over the substrate and extending in a first direction, and a plurality of gate lines formed over the substrate and extending in a second direction. The plurality of gate lines cross the plurality of data lines to form a plurality of pixel areas, each of the plurality of pixel areas having a multi-bent band shape. Each of a plurality of pixel electrodes are formed in a corresponding pixel area.
US07675596B2	Liquid crystal device and information terminal device provided with the same A semi-transparent homogeneous-alignment LCD device including a transmission part and a reflection part, a first linear dielectric protrusion disposed between a common electrode and a liquid crystal layer so as to extend over a plurality of pixels in a short side direction of pixels and be disposed nearly in center of the transmission part, anda second linear dielectric protrusion disposed in the reflection part between the common electrode and a first substrate so as to extend over a plurality of pixels in the short side direction, wherein an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules crosses the first and second linear dielectric protrusions at right angles and is parallel to a long side direction of pixels, and a tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules is approximately 0°, or even if there is a pre-tilt angle, the tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules is 2° or less.
US07675588B2	System for displaying images including a liquid crystal display panel A system for displaying images includes a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel comprises a color filter substrate having a light shielding layer on a peripheral area and a common electrode on a display area and the peripheral area, and an array substrate having a pixel electrode on the display area and a separate and independent electrode with a fixed voltage on the peripheral area. The liquid crystal display panel further comprises a liquid crystal layer between the color filter substrate and the array substrate.
US07675587B2	Polarizing plate and process for producing the same The polarizing plate of the invention comprises a norbornene resin film, a polyurethane layer, an adhesive layer and a polarizing film which are laminated in this order. The polarizing plate exhibits excellent adhesion between the optical film and the polarizing film, is excellent also in properties such as heat resistance and chemical resistance, rarely suffers delamination and distortion even if it is used for a long period of time, and has high reliability. The polarizing plate can be obtained by, for example, a process comprising steps of forming a polyurethane layer on a surface of a norbornene resin film and bonding a polarizing film to the polyurethane layer through an adhesive.
US07675574B2	Display mode switching apparatus, method and program product A display mode switching device and method automatically switches a display mode of a television set to an overscan mode or to an underscan mode depending on a content of a screen. In a case of connecting a television set to a computer, a call from an application for an API in an OS is detected by a device driver when a user starts playing a DVD or a game. Accordingly, an output mode for the television set is switched to the overscan mode. In this way, a motion video or a game is displayed on the television set in the overscan mode. Meanwhile, when the user finishes playing the DVD or the game, a call for the API to release resources is detected by the device driver, and the output mode is restored to the underscan mode. In this way, a computer screen is displayed on the television set in the underscan mode.
US07675568B2	Apparatus and method for controlling diaphragm of imaging apparatus When a difference between a diaphragm target position and a detected state of a diaphragm is less than a neutral zone width, a driving control operation of the diaphragm is prohibited. The neutral zone width can be changed depending on the state of the diaphragm.
US07675561B2	Time delayed integration CMOS image sensor with zero desynchronization A time delayed integration image sensor provides over-sampled image data on a time-shared column bus to maintain data synchronization.
US07675552B2	Flicker correction method and device, and imaging device Even in case the shutter speed is high, a flicker can be corrected accurately. A flicker correction method in which a flicker is corrected by predicting, from a present input frame image, a flicker component in an image of a next frame and adding a correction value to the next frame image on the basis of the predicted flicker component includes holding a plurality of flicker data, calculating the correction value by combining a plurality of flicker data together at a ratio set correspondingly to a shutter speed and frame rate, and adding the calculated correction value to the input image signal.
US07675546B2	Imaging device having function for correcting image shake of acquired image An imaging device photoelectrically converts a subject image to generate image data. The imaging device has a function of selectively performing two types of image vibration correction processings on this image data. The imaging device makes a selection/switching between the image vibration correction processings in accordance with a determination of an exposure period required to shoot the image data.
US07675544B2	System and method for video transmission line fault detection A video circuit including a video amplifier adapted to generate an amplified output video signal from an input video signal; a short detection circuit adapted to generate a first signal indicative of whether there is a short present at an output of the video amplifier; and a load detection circuit adapted to generate a second signal indicative of whether there is a load coupled to the output of the video amplifier. The video circuit may further include an input signal detection circuit adapted to generate a third signal indicative of whether an input video signal is present. The third signal generated by the input signal detection circuit may be used to enable the outputting of the first and second signals in order to prevent the false indication of faults at the output of the video amplifier in the absence of an input video signal.
US07675543B2	Analysis of video footage Segments of interest within video footage are identified automatically. Such segments of interest include portions of the footage which were taken using a hand held camera and which show a static subject, portions which track the motion of a moving subject, and portions which show an abrupt event. Methods are presented for identifying such segments, based on motion and/or color analysis of the video footage or based on observations of discontinuities in the video footage following a period of stability.
US07675538B2	Monitoring and control of administration systems The present invention allows administrators of conference equipment, remotely localized from the ordinary managing interface, to execute simple commands for solving a problem that may have occurred during a conference or at conference set up. This is provided by a parser translating user terminal commands transmitted from the user terminal (e.g. a cellular phone) of the system administrator to Conference Management System codes, which are executed on the conference equipment in question from the Conference Management System. The present invention also allows system administrators to be alerted by a message (e.g. SMS) at any errors occurring during a conference or conference set up, and to correct the errors by responding to the alert without the need of addressing the equipment in which the errors occur.
US07675533B2	Thermal transfer printer for film A thermal transfer printer for film capable of thermal transfer printing on a plastic film. The thermal transfer printer for film is provided with a conveyance for conveying the plastic film along a predetermined path, an ink ribbon moving mechanism which includes a holder for holding a plurality of ink ribbons 11 and moves an ink ribbon selected arbitrarily from the plurality of ink ribbons to a print position arranged on the predetermined path, and a print head which prints on the plastic film by heating the ink ribbon moved to the print position.
US07675532B2	Image-forming apparatus and control method thereof An image-forming apparatus sets a DAC output voltage 1602, a VI conversion current ID 1603, and a laser current IL 1604 using a correction profile 1601, and performs density nonuniformity correction that addresses various factors contributing to density nonuniformity.
US07675519B2	Persistent, immersible and extractable avatars Avatar data is stored in a management application. The management application sends an immersion request to the application. The management application identifies the avatar data fields used by the application, and any appropriate scaling and avatar transformation. The management application scales the data appropriately, transforms the avatar if necessary, and transmits the (scaled and transformed) avatar data to the application. When the avatar is to be removed from the application, the application transmits the avatar data back to the management application, which integrates any changes to the avatar data into the original avatar data.
US07675511B2	Electronic notebook An electronic notebook includes a case; a sheet-like display medium provided in the case, containing charged particles, and having a first surface and a second surface; a first electrode disposed on the case; and a second electrode disposed on the case. By changing a positional relationship between the display medium and the first electrode and the second electrode, the display medium and the first electrode and the second electrode take on either an arranged state in which the display medium is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode so that the first surface of the display medium opposes the first electrode and the second surface of the display medium opposes the second electrode, or a non-arranged state that is a state other than the arranged state.
US07675491B2	Display device and method for driving the same A display device includes a pixel array in which a plurality of display pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional manner which is divided into a plurality of column groups composed of the display pixels of a predetermined number of columns, a signal drive circuit which produces a signal current based on display data, and sequentially outputs, in time series via a common terminals, the signal current that corresponds to the display pixels for one row of the pixel array for each of signal currents that correspond to each of the column groups, and a current latch circuit which sequentially captures and holds the signal currents output from the signal drive circuit for one row of the pixel array, generates gradation currents and simultaneously supplies the gradation currents to the plurality of data lines, wherein the pixel array and the current latch circuit are formed on a display panel substrate.
US07675481B2	Device for representing and/or displaying various process and/or controlled variables A device for representing and/or displaying various process and/or controlled variables for selectable application cases on a display unit, with bar graphs being arranged in respective, predetermined surface elements (A, B, C), with each bar graph, respectively each surface element (A, B, C), having a defined form and/or a defined position on the display. A control unit assembles bar graphs, respectively corresponding surface elements (A, B, C), mosaic-like in a display in such a manner that the resulting bar graph display is matched to a selected application case.
US07675480B2	Image display device and image display method An image display device comprises a first clock generator for generating and outputting a first clock based on input horizontal synchronizing signals corresponding to horizontal lines making up input image signals, a second clock generator for generating and outputting a second clock, storage configured so as to accumulate image data sampled from the input image signals based on the first clock using the first clock output from the first clock generator and read out the accumulated image data using the second clock output from the second clock generator, a controller for outputting control signals for controlling the cycle of output horizontal synchronizing signals at the time of reading out and displaying the accumulated image data from the storage, according to image size information of the input image signals, cycle information of the input horizontal synchronizing signals, display panel size information, and cycle information of the second clock, and a synchronizing signal generator for outputting the output horizontal synchronizing signals based on the control signals output from the controller. Accordingly, image scaling processing can be performed properly at arbitrary conversion ratios.
US07675477B2	Dielectrically-loaded antenna A dielectrically-loaded helical antenna has a cylindrical ceramic core bearing metallised helical antenna elements which are coupled to a coaxial feeder structure passing axially through the core. Secured to an end face of the core is a circular laminate board having feed-through holes for receiving the end portions of feeder structure conductors. Coupling conductors on the face of the board that faces the core extend radially outwardly from connections with the feeder structure conductors to plated edge portions of the board. The board is of a diameter substantially equal to that of the core and bridging conductors overlying the plated edge portions connect the coupling conductors to the helical elements. The board incorporates a matching network.
US07675474B2	Horizontal multiple-input multiple-output wireless antennas High gain, multi-pattern multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems are disclosed. These systems provide for multiple-polarization and omnidirectional coverage using multiple radios, which may be tuned to the same frequency. The MIMO antenna systems may include multiple high-gain beams arranged (or capable of being arranged) to provide for omnidirectional coverage. These systems provide for increased data throughput and reduced interference without sacrificing the benefits related to size and manageability of an associated access point.
US07675464B2	Plated antenna for high frequency devices A method of making a double-sided antenna for high frequency devices is discussed. The method includes forming metal patterns on both sides of a substrate having pre-formed connection holes. Preferably, the metal patterns are formed using a printing ink having a precursor and a solvent. In one embodiment, the metal patterns include coils which are formed on both sides of the substrate. In one embodiment, shunt bars are used to speed up the process of making the metal patterns. The shunt bars are punched out at the end of the process to electrically isolate the metal patterns.
US07675458B2	Dual beam radar system Various embodiments are described herein relating to a radar system and associated methods for detecting targets in the presence of certain types of clutter. The radar system generally comprises hardware operatively configured to obtain first and second sets of radar return signals concurrently, first circuitry operatively configured to detect targets in the first and second sets of radar return signals, and second circuitry operatively configured to identify detected targets due to clutter.
US07675456B2	Technique for mitigating multipath impacts on azimuth accuracy in a monopulse interrogator A method for mitigating multipath impacts on azimuth accuracy in a monopulse interrogator is accomplished by calculating samples of monopulse ratio for samples of antenna boresight angles based on data received from an interrogation of a target. Samples of traditional target azimuth from the samples of monopulse ratio are calculated. A mean of the samples of traditional target azimuth is calculated. An alternative target azimuth from the samples of monopulse ratio is calculated. Whether a multipath signal exists is determined from observing a standard deviation of the samples of traditional target azimuth, and using the mean of the traditional target azimuth if a multipath signal does not exist and using the alternative target azimuth if a multipath signal does exist.
US07675442B2	Compensation of nonlinearity of single ended digital to analog converters This disclosure relates to a compensating for nonlinearity resulting from a capacitance feedback in current cells of a single ended digital to analog circuit.
US07675441B2	Pilot-tone calibration for time-interleaved analog-to-digital converters A self-calibrating analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC includes multiple component ADCs to generate respective digital representations of an input signal in response to respective timing signals that are offset in phase from one another, each component ADC having a gain setting that controls a magnitude of the digital representations. The ADC further includes correction circuitry to generate a plurality of fast-Fourier transforms (FFTs) that correspond to the digital representations of the input signal and to adjust the gain settings of the component ADCs and/or phase angles of the timing signals based on gain and phase errors indicated by the FFTs.
US07675440B1	Thermometer-code-to-binary encoders An encoder is provided for converting thermometer code data with bubbles to binary format. An integrated circuit may have circuitry such as digital phase-locked loop circuitry. A thermometer code data word may be used as a control signal for the circuitry. It may be desirable to monitor the thermometer code data word for testing or for downstream processing by control logic on the integrated circuit. The encoder performs thermometer code to binary encoding without requiring that the thermometer code be error corrected to remove bubbles. A bubble detection circuit may be used to detect when the thermometer code data contains bubbles. The encoder may use carry look-ahead adders and pipeline stages.
US07675438B2	Method and system for transmitting/receiving serial data in serial communication system and serial communication system for the same A method and a system for transmitting/receiving serial data efficiently by minimizing the transitions of bits in a serial communication system, as well as a serial communication system for the same, are provided. The method for converting coded parallel data into serial data and transmitting the serial data in a serial communication system includes determining a position, in which an information bit of the coded parallel data is found first, the information bit being defined as a bit having a predetermined bit value so that the information bit is not compressed; and serially transmitting the information bit found first and at least one bit following the information bit found first as compressed serial data until the determined position is reached.
US07675429B2	Intra-oral signal modulator and controller Methods and apparatus for controlling an external device via at least one signal modulated by movements of a user's tongue, maxillaries and lips may include a mouthpiece comprising a controller and at least one signal emitter and one signal detector. A signal generated by the at least one emitter may be modulated by changes to the geometry of a user's oral cavity and detected by at least one signal detector. The at least one detected signal may be processed by a controller and transmitted to a remote device in order to provide control capability made possible by the degrees of freedom available by manipulation of the geometry of the user's oral cavity.
US07675422B2	Networked RF Tag for tracking people by means of loyalty cards The invention disclosed provides a method, system, and associated tag for detection and tracking of inanimate and animate objects. The novel method broadly comprises the steps of: a) attaching a low radio frequency detection tag to each of the objects, each tag comprising a tag antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz (preferably not exceeding 300 kilohertz), a transceiver operatively connected to the tag's antenna, the transceiver being operable to transmit and receive data signals at the low radio frequency, a data storage device operable to store data comprising identification data for identifying said detection tag, a programmed data processor operable to process data received from the transceiver and the data storage device and to send data to cause the transceiver to emit an identification signal based upon the identification data stored in said data storage device, and an energy source for activating the tag's transceiver and data processor; b) storing, in the data storage device of each tag, shipping data selected from object description data, address-of-origin data, destination address data, object vulnerability data, and object status data; c) commingling the objects in a repository selected from a warehouse and a truck, the repository being provided with at least one large loop field antenna operable at said low radio frequency; the field antenna being disposed at a distance from each object that permits effective communication therewith at the low radio frequency, d) reading the identification data and shipping data from the transceiver of each tag by interrogating all tags commingled in said repository with data signals, such as specific IP addresses or other identification codes, via said field antenna; and e) transmitting the identification data and shipping data from each tag to a central data processor to provide a tally of the objects in said repository.
US07675414B2	Methods and apparatus for an environmental and behavioral adaptive wireless communication device Methods, devices, apparatus and systems are provided for adaptation of a wireless communication device based on current environmental conditions, historical environmental condition patterns and/or historical usage patterns. In this regard, the device senses such environmental conditions as light, sound, motion, temperature and the like and, automatically or at user discretion, adjusts functionality on the device that is affected by these conditions. Additionally, by determining environmental and usage patterns the device can adapt to the patterns by providing certain functionality and/or applications to the user at prescribed times of the day, week, month, etc. By being able to automatically adapt the functionality of a wireless communication device, the user of such a device experiences greater ease in using the device and an overall heightened user experience.
US07675411B1	Enhancing presence information through the addition of one or more of biotelemetry data and environmental data One or more of telephony functions and communication routing management are controlled by one or more of presence information, environmental information and physiological information. An analysis of the one or more of presence information, environmental information and physiological information is compared with a profile and the one or more of telephony functions and communication routing modified in accordance with a rule set associated with the profile. The environmental and physiological information can be acquired by a communications device associated with a person or through the communications device communicating with one or more dedicated environmental or physiological sensors.
US07675408B2	Power line communication system, device and method A signal is received from a first portion of a power line via a connection to the power line and at least a portion of the signal is converted to a non-electrically conducting signal. The non-electrically conducting signal may be communicated to a non-electrically conductive communication path. In this manner, the non-electrically conducting signal may have properties that do not provide imminent danger from human contact.
US07675404B2	Indicator for vehicle An indicator for a vehicle having an engine and a transmission, includes a main engine speed indicator for indicating a present engine speed of the engine, and an auxiliary engine speed indicator for indicating an engine speed given after a gear shift operation of the transmission and calculated based upon the present engine speed. According to the indicator, the engine speed given after the shift operation of the transmission can be prospectively recognized. The drivability thus can be enhanced.
US07675401B2	Electronic circuit board A circuit board, for an electronic circuit having a passive circuit component, has a component region, a non-component region, and circuit wiring conductors on its surface. The component region includes a polymer composition comprising a mixture of polymer resin and filler material that, in combination with the circuit wiring conductors, forms the passive circuit component.
US07675390B2	Acoustic galvanic isolator incorporating single decoupled stacked bulk acoustic resonator Embodiments of the acoustic galvanic isolator comprise a carrier signal source, a modulator connected to receive an information signal and the carrier signal, a demodulator, and an electrically-isolating acoustic coupler connected between the modulator and the demodulator. The acoustic coupler comprises no more than one decoupled stacked bulk acoustic resonator (DSBAR). An electrically-isolating acoustic coupler based on a single DSBAR is physically small and is inexpensive to fabricate yet is capable of passing information signals having data rates in excess of 100 Mbit/s and has a substantial breakdown voltage between its inputs and its outputs.
US07675380B2	Integrated digitally controlled linear-in-decibels attenuator An integrated digitally controlled linear-in-decibels attenuator circuit in which one or more sets of selection switches establish a desired attenuation by selectively connecting the input signal electrode to one or more corresponding resistive ladder networks connected in series, thereby providing a substantially more constant signal attenuation value over a wider frequency bandwidth. With a single resistive ladder network, attenuation control is achieved using a thermometer switching code. With multiple resistive ladder networks, coarse and fine attenuation control can be achieved using thermometer and bubble switching codes, respectively.
US07675370B2	Dynamic calibration techniques for digitally controlled oscillator Techniques for calibrating digitally controlled oscillators (DCOs) are disclosed. In an aspect of the disclosure, an initial set of control codes for operating the DCO is determined. A range of output frequencies produced from the initial set is identified. Gaps or instances of overlap are identified in the frequency range. For the overlap case, control codes are removed from the initial set that correspond to the overlap instance to establish a revised set. For the gap case, control codes are added to the initial set for producing frequencies values that fill the gap. An apparatus for performing the same is also disclosed.
US07675369B2	Frequency hopping oscillator circuit A method for controlling a frequency output of a phase locked loop (PLL) is provided. The method includes providing digital control words to the PLL to discretely change at least one dividing factor within the PLL. The method further includes applying a time-varying control voltage to a voltage controlled oscillator. The method still further includes applying an output of the voltage controlled oscillator to the PLL as a reference frequency. The method further includes outputting a signal from the PLL, the signal varied in frequency based on one or more of the time-varying control voltage and the at least one dividing factor.
US07675362B2	Switching amplifier A switching amplifier includes an input end for receiving an input signal, a reference signal reception end for receiving a reference signal, a feedback end for receiving a feedback signal, an output end for outputting an output signal, an integration circuit for performing integration operation on the input signal according to the output signal and the feedback signal, so as to generate an integration result, a comparison circuit coupled to the integration circuit, the reference signal end, and the output end, for comparing the integration result and the reference signal, so as to generate the output signal for the output end, and a feedback circuit coupled between an output end of the integration circuit and the feedback end, for generating the feedback signal for the feedback end to clamp the integration result to a predetermined value when the integration result reaches the predetermined value.
US07675360B2	Power control circuit and power control method A power control circuit includes: a fine adjustment variable amplifying unit configured to amplify the input signal in accordance with a first gain set value; a coarse adjustment variable amplifying unit configured to amplify the input signal in accordance with a second gain set value; a branching unit configured to branch an output signal into a feedback signal; a comparing unit configured to compare a gain value between the input signal and the output signal with the required gain set value; a control unit configured to determine the first gain set value and the second gain set value based on the required gain set value; and an adjusting unit configured to adjust the first gain set value and the second gain set value so that the power value of the feedback signal becomes a power value corresponding to the required gain set value.
US07675359B2	Switch-around low noise amplifier A switch-around low noise amplifier (LNA) device includes an input for receiving an input signal; an output for outputting an output signal; an LNA transistor coupled between the input and the output; a bypass switch circuit coupled between the input and the output; a current mirror circuit operatively connected to the LNA transistor to control a current flowing through the LNA transistor; a source follower switch operatively connected to the current mirror circuit to selectively turn on and off the current through the current mirror circuit in response to a mode select signal; and a driver adapted to selectively turn on and off the bypass switch circuit in response to the mode select signal. The LNA transistor receives the input signal at its control terminal, and one of the first and second terminals is directly connected to a supply voltage (e.g., ground).
US07675354B2	Switching circuit for switchably connecting an input node and an output node The application provides a switching circuit for switchably connecting an input node and an output node. The switching circuit comprises a switch operable to switchably connect the input node to the output node in response to a switching signal. A sensor is provided for sensing the voltage between the input and output nodes and providing a sense signal in response thereto. A driver coupled to the sensor adjusts the switching signal in response to the sense signal.
US07675349B2	Power supply circuit and display device therewith An unnecessary through current is suppressed and insufficiency of an output electric potential and increase in power consumption are suppressed in a power supply circuit using a charge pump method. In order to suppress a reduction in an output electric potential VPP as well as suppressing transient through currents I1 and I2 when a clock DCCLK is inverted, resistances R1 of a wiring 11, R2 of a wiring 12 and R4 of a wiring 14 are set so as to satisfy relations R4>R1 and R4>R2. That is, the through currents I1 and I2 can be suppressed by reducing the resistances R1 and R2 so that electric potentials V1 and V2 are quickly inverted when the clock DCCLK is inverted. Also, the through current I1 can be suppressed to suppress the reduction in the positive output electric potential VPP by setting the resistance R4 to be larger than either of the resistances R1 and R2.
US07675346B2	Switching control system to reduce coil output voltage when commencing coil charging A switching control system and method is provided that optimizes switching efficiencies for power switching applications including automotive ignition systems, solenoid drivers, motor drivers and power regulation systems. In an ignition system, a coil current switching magnitude is controlled at the start of ignition coil charging, thereby avoiding an untimely spark event. When the transistor threshold voltage is reached, the collapse rate of the ignition system transistor collector voltage is reduced by reducing the gate charging current. The reduced collector voltage slew rate results in a reduced primary and secondary coil output voltage. After the collector voltage collapses, a continued rapid charge is provided to place the transistor in a hard saturation bias condition. In an aspect, the present invention dynamically determines the threshold voltage of a power transistor. A mirror capacitor substantially matches a transistor gate voltage and a signal is generated when the mirror capacitor voltage proportionally exceeds the transistor gate voltage as a consequence of the transistor reaching a threshold voltage.
US07675343B2	Level shifter and display device using the same A level shifter includes: a first transistor including a first electrode coupled to a first power source, a second electrode coupled to a first output terminal, and a control electrode coupled to a second output terminal; a second transistor including a first electrode coupled to the first power source, a second electrode coupled to the second output terminal, and a control electrode coupled to the first output terminal; a third transistor including a first electrode, and a second electrode coupled to the second output terminal; a fourth transistor including a first electrode, and a second electrode coupled to the first output terminal; a first capacitor including a first terminal and a second terminal; and a second capacitor including a first terminal and a second terminal.
US07675337B2	Duty cycle correcting circuit and duty cycle correcting method A duty cycle correcting circuit includes a first duty ratio correcting unit that widens a high-level period of an input clock in response to a detection signal, thereby correcting a duty ratio of the input clock to output a first corrected clock. A second duty ratio correcting unit narrows the high-level period of the input clock in response to the detection signal, thereby correcting the duty ratio of the input clock to output a second corrected clock. A clock selecting unit selectively outputs the first corrected clock or the second corrected clock as an output clock in response to the detection signal. A duty ratio detecting unit detects a duty ratio of the output clock, thereby generating the detection signal.
US07675336B1	Clock duty cycle recovery circuit Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide the improvement or recovery of a duty cycle of a clock signal. One embodiment of the present invention receives a clock signal that may have a degraded duty cycle. The frequency of the clock signal is divided by two. The frequency-divided signal is delayed in order to generate two signals that are phase shifted from one another by 90 degrees. These signals are then exclusive-ORed together to generate a recovered clock. A control loop is provided to adjust the phase shift between the signals to be approximately 90 degrees.
US07675331B2	Power-up signal generating circuit and method for driving the same A power-up signal generating circuit that prevents repeatedly generating a power-up signal even when there is noise on an external voltage. The power-up signal generating circuit includes a level detector, a level comparator, and a reentry protector. The level detector is configured to deactivate a first level detection signal when a level of an external voltage increases above a upper limit reference voltage. The level comparator is configured to deactivate a second level detection signal when the level of the external voltage increases above a lower limit reference voltage. The reentry protector is configured to activate the power-up signal in response to the second level detection signal and deactivate the power-up signal in response to a deactivation of the first level detection signal.
US07675324B2	Pre-driver logic At least one of the disclosed systems includes driver logic that is capable of driving a device and pre-driver logic coupled to the driver logic and that drives the driver logic. If the pre-driver logic receives an input signal of a first type, the pre-driver logic activates a first transistor such that the pre-driver logic provides an output signal. If the pre-driver logic receives an input signal of a second type, the pre-driver logic activates a second transistor and a third transistor that together cause the pre-driver logic to provide a different output signal. If the third transistor is not activated, the pre-driver logic provides the output signal.
US07675320B2	Non-volatile memory architecture for programmable-logic-based system on a chip A programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device includes a programmable logic block. A digital input/output circuit block is coupled to the programmable logic block. A SRAM block is coupled to the programmable logic block. At least one non-volatile memory block is coupled to the programmable logic block. A JTAG port is coupled to the programmable logic block. An analog circuit block including an analog-to-digital converter may be coupled to the programmable logic block and an analog input/output circuit block may be coupled to the analog circuit block.
US07675310B2	Device under test power supply A power supply includes a first amplifier, a first current stage, and a second current stage. The first amplifier is configured to set an output voltage equal to a fixed input voltage for supplying to a device. The first current stage is configured to source and sink a first range of first output currents and provide a first measurement current representing a first output current. The second current stage is configured to source and sink a second range of second output currents and provide a second measurement current representing a second output current in response to the first range being exceeded. The first output current and the second output current are summed for supplying to the device. The first measurement current and the second measurement current are summed at a node.
US07675304B2	Probe assembly with multi-directional freedom of motion and mounting assembly therefor An improved test probe assembly has an improved mounting assembly which provides the test probe multi-directional freedom of movement with respect to a base in order to resist damage frequently caused to the test probe. The improved mounting assembly may, for example, include at least a first resilient mount disposed on the base and having at least a first support and at least a first resilient element. The at least a first resilient element, which may, for example, be at least a first spring, is deflectable when the test probe engages a structure, such as a device under testing (DUT). Accordingly, the improved test probe assembly of the invention can be deflected an infinite number of positions, in order to resist damage caused, for example, by misalignment between the probe and the DUT.
US07675293B2	Method and apparatus for in-situ characterization of energy storage and energy conversion devices Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for determining an impedance of an energy-output device using a random noise stimulus applied to the energy-output device. A random noise signal is generated and converted to a random noise stimulus as a current source correlated to the random noise signal. A bias-reduced response of the energy-output device to the random noise stimulus is generated by comparing a voltage at the energy-output device terminal to an average voltage signal. The random noise stimulus and bias-reduced response may be periodically sampled to generate a time-varying current stimulus and a time-varying voltage response, which may be correlated to generate an autocorrelated stimulus, an autocorrelated response, and a cross-correlated response. Finally, the autocorrelated stimulus, the autocorrelated response, and the cross-correlated response may be combined to determine at least one of impedance amplitude, impedance phase, and complex impedance.
US07675292B2	Method of determining acid stratification in rechargeable batteries A method of determining a stratification of an electrolyte in an active mass of positive electrode plates in rechargeable batteries includes determining a variation of at least one of a charging current and a charging voltage of the rechargeable battery occurring during charging of the rechargeable battery; and detecting a stratification of the electrolyte from an increased charging current consumption in the rechargeable battery as compared to an identical rechargeable battery without stratification when there is a fixed charging voltage variation or a reduced charging voltage when there is a fixed charging current variation.
US07675269B2	Circuit and method for battery charging and discharging protection A method to detect the presence of battery protection circuits in any battery powered product. The major advantage of the method is to make the battery voltage very smooth during the charging process. The proposed circuit can give a good prediction of protection switching turn on time. This can provide the battery powered system work smoothly by avoiding any battery voltage discontinuity. The proposed invention addresses the issue of deep discharge and provides a solution through a discharge test procedure.
US07675263B2	Method for controlling battery pack A battery pack includes a switching element, a heat resistor, and a fuse. The switching element turns to ON if the battery pack becomes in an abnormal state. The heat resistor is connected to the switching element and a battery in series. Current flows through the heat resistor when the switching element turns to ON. The fuse is located in a position where the fuse is heated by the heat resistor through which the current flows. The fuse is connected to the battery in series so that the fuse is disconnected with heat by the heat resistor at high temperature. Thus, the fuse cuts off a current flow in the battery. If the battery pack is in an abnormal state, when the capacity or voltage of the battery is less than a preset capacity or voltage value, the fuse is disconnected with heat by turning the switching element to ON.
US07675261B2	Auxiliary battery attachment apparatus for use in a multiple battery system that reliably supplies electrical energy to an electrical system An auxiliary battery attachment apparatus, which is attachable to a first housing containing a first battery, includes a second housing, a second battery disposed within the second housing, positive and negative couplings, a one-way charging circuit, and at least one switching device. The coupling(s) are respectively coupleable to positive and negative terminal(s) of the first housing. The second housing includes positive and negative terminals, which are electrically coupleable to an electrical system. The charging circuit is electrically connected between the positive coupling(s) and a positive output of the second battery, and facilitates charging of, but prevents current flow from, the second battery when the first battery is supplying electrical energy to the electrical system. The switching device(s) is operable in at least two states to electrically connect the positive terminal(s) of the second housing to a selective one of the positive coupling(s) and the positive output of the second battery.
US07675259B2	Controller for DC motor A first determining section determines whether a recording medium is conveyed in a first direction. A setting section sets a first current value as a current initially outputted to a DC motor each time the first determining section determines that the recording medium is conveyed in the first direction. A first current outputting section outputs a current at the first current value, and subsequently outputs by steps a current gradually higher than the first current value motor until the first determining section again determines that the recording medium is conveyed in the first direction. A second determining section determines whether the recording medium is conveyed in a second direction opposite the first direction after the first current outputting section outputs a current at the first current value. A first updating section updates the first current value to a second current value higher than the first current value, when the second determining section determines that the recording medium is conveyed in the second direction.
US07675252B2	Methods of constructing a betatron vacuum chamber and injector A betatron structure having a donut-shaped vacuum chamber, wherein the vacuum chamber is made up of two or more pieces bonded together; an injector positioned within the vacuum chamber; and two or more magnets positioned to the outside of the vacuum chamber. A method of manufacturing a betatron structure, including: (a) fabricating two or more pieces; (b) positioning an injector on one of the two or more pieces; and (c) bonding the two or more pieces such that when bonded, the substrates form a hollow donut-shaped chamber.
US07675245B2	Electronic circuit for driving a diode load An electronic circuit includes circuit portions for identifying a largest voltage drop through one of a plurality of series connected diode strings and for controlling a boost switching regulator according to the largest voltage drop. The electronic circuit can sense an open circuit series connected diode string, which would otherwise have the largest voltage drop, and can disconnect that open circuit series connected diode string from control of the boost switching regulator. Another electronic circuit includes a current limiting circuit coupled to or within a boost switching regulator and configured to operate with a diode load. Another electronic circuit includes a pulse width modulation circuit configured to dim a series connected string of light emitting diodes.
US07675241B2	Lighting apparatus formed by serially-driven lighting units A lighting apparatus includes a lighting module, a feedback control circuit, and a DC-to-AC circuit. The lighting module comprises a first lighting unit, a second lighting unit, a first transformer, a second transformer and a third transformer. A first end of a first port of the first transformer is connected to a first end of the first lighting unit, a first end of a first port of the second transformer is connected to a second end of the first lighting unit, a second end of the first port of the second transformer is connected to a first end of the second lighting unit, and a first end of a first port of the third transformer is connected to a second end of the second lighting unit. The lighting apparatus uses serial connection of the lighting units to reduce the number of transformers and still have the feedback control circuit.
US07675231B2	Light emitting diode display device comprising a high temperature resistant overlay A light emitting diode display device includes a substrate having a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion. A light emitting diode die is coupled to the first conductive portion. A wire bond is coupled to the light emitting diode die and coupled to the second conductive portion. An encapsulant encases the light emitting diode die and the wire bond above the substrate. An overlay is above the encapsulant, wherein the overlay has a high glass transition temperature.
US07675224B2	Piezoelectric vibrating reed and piezoelectric device There is provided a piezoelectric vibrating reed, including: a base formed of a piezoelectric material and having a predetermined length; a plurality of vibrating arms extended from one side of the base; a support arm extended in a width direction from the other side spaced apart from the one side of the base by a predetermined interval and extended outside the vibrating arms in the same direction as the vibrating arms; and a cut portion formed of the piezoelectric material reduced in its width direction at a location closer to the vibrating arms than a connection portion where the support arms are connected to the base as one body, wherein a through-hole is also disposed at a location closer to the vibrating arms than the connection portion where the support arms are connected to the base as one body.
US07675214B2	Low profile motor A low-profile motor includes a rotor yoke having a rotor magnet on its inner or outer surface and being rotationally supported on a motor base via a shaft, and a stator core constituted of a plurality of T-shaped winding parts each having an end opposed to the rotor magnet. On the motor base formed with a hole for supporting the rotor yoke via the shaft, the plurality of T-shaped winding parts are cut like tongues along the radial direction of the hole, and the T-shaped winding parts are each bent such that their ends are opposed to the rotor magnet. Thus, it is possible to readily form the T-shaped winding parts, eliminate the need for mounting the T-shaped winding parts, and reduce the number of parts and steps. This technique enables it to efficiently form an inexpensive low-profile motor for a magnetic disk unit and the like.
US07675212B2	Sealing device A sealing device in which a magnetic encoder is protected so as to improve detecting precision and reliability, without increasing the number of parts and assembling time and without enlarging a setting space, the sealing device is structured such that a detected portion is arranged in the sealed fluid side of an annular member. A first annular member fitted to a shaft is formed with an axial direction portion and diametrical direction portions extending in the inward and outward diametrical directions from the axial direction portion. One of the diametrical direction portions supports the detected portion in the sealed fluid side. A seal lip is in slidable contact with the other diametrical direction portion for sealing, and the seal portion is formed with the seal lip and the micro space.
US07675201B2	Lithographic apparatus with planar motor driven support A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system that conditions a radiation beam, a patterning support holding a patterning device that patterns the radiation beam, a substrate support to hold a substrate, a projection system to project the patterned radiation beam onto the substrate, an additional support, and a flexible line assembly to transfer at least one of a current, a signal or a fluid. A first part of the line assembly extends between a base and the additional support, and a second part extends between the additional support and the patterning support or the substrate support. A first motor assembly generates a force in at least one direction, and is coupled to the one of either the patterning support or the substrate support. A second motor assembly generates a force in the at least one direction, and is coupled to the additional support. The first motor assembly includes a planar motor.
US07675200B2	Combination control system with intermediate module The present invention relates to combination control systems employing at least one intermediate module between different control modules and, in one embodiment, relates to a system for isolating a load from multiple power sources. The system includes a first power isolation system capable of receiving a first power from a first input port and determining whether the first power is communicated to a first output port, and a second power isolation system capable of receiving a second power from a second input port and determining whether the second power is communicated to a second output port. The system further includes an intermediate module connected with the first and second power isolation systems, where the intermediate module allows for at least one intermediate control signal to be provided to both of the power isolation systems.
US07675196B2	Power supply apparatus and image forming apparatus A circuit unit connects outputs from a first power supply and a second power supply in parallel, and simultaneously supplies powers from both power supplies to a load. A control unit controls an output current from the first power supply to an upper-limit value or lower, and controls an output current from the second power supply to a value obtained by subtracting the upper-limit value from a current detected by a current detector. An abnormality detector detects an abnormality in simultaneously supplied power, based on a reference current value associated with an operating state of the power supply apparatus and the current detected by the current detector.
US07675194B2	Device for powering equipment, and an equipment power supply system A power supply device for powering equipment from at least one network supplying AC and at least one battery supplying DC, the power supply device comprising: a first branch that is connected to the main network and that comprises a transformation member for transforming the AC voltage into an equivalent DC voltage; a second branch that is connected to the battery and that comprises a voltage booster for raising the DC voltage supplied by the battery to an output voltage close to the DC voltage equivalent to the AC voltage; the first branch and the second branch being connected by a switch member to a converter arranged to transform the DC voltage equivalent to the AC voltage of the network into at least one DC voltage for powering the equipment.
US07675184B2	Semiconductor device Input/output cells are formed so as to be peripherally arranged adjacent to a corner cell on a surface of a semiconductor chip, and electrode pads are formed on the respective input/output cells. The electrode pads are configured in a zigzag pad arrangement so as to form inner and outer pad arrays. However, of the electrode pads forming the inner pad array, those electrode pads in predetermined areas adjacent to the two sides of the corner cell are not disposed, such that an interconnect pattern of a carrier which is bump-bonded to the semiconductor chip and vias are prevented from becoming complex.
US07675174B2	Method and structure of a thick metal layer using multiple deposition chambers A thick metal layer is formed on a semiconductor integrated circuit in multiple different deposition chambers. A first portion of the metal layer is formed in a first deposition chamber, the first thickness being approximately half the target thickness. The substrate is then removed from the first chamber and transported to a second chamber. The deposition of the same metal layer continues in a second chamber, having the same grain structure and orientation. The second portion of the metal layer is grown to achieve the final thickness. By using two different deposition chambers to form the single metal layer, layers in excess of 25,000 angstroms in thickness can be obtained.
US07675173B2	Manufacturing semiconductor circuit, corresponding semiconductor circuit, and associated design process A process of manufacturing a semiconductor circuit includes providing a substrate layer, forming a metal layer above the substrate layer, incorporating circuit components in the substrate layer, and electrically connecting the circuit components to the metal layer. The process includes configuring the circuit components to perform an electrical function of the semiconductor circuit. The semiconductor circuit has a specific electrical conductivity between the substrate layer and the metal layer based on the electrical function performed. The process includes increasing the electrical conductivity between the substrate layer and the metal layer compared with the specific electrical conductivity.
US07675171B2	Semiconductor package and fabricating method thereof Provided is a semiconductor device including a substrate, an electrode pad disposed on the substrate, an external terminal disposed on the electrode pad, a container extended from the electrode pad into the external terminal, and a conductive liquid disposed inside the container. The conductive liquid solidifies when exposed to air. When a crack forms in the external terminal, the container suppresses propagation of the crack. Further, if the crack breaches the container, the conductive liquid fills the crack, thereby minimizing further crack propagation and recovering the resistance characteristics of the external terminal prior to the crack formation. A method of forming a semiconductor device including a container having a conductive liquid is also provided.
US07675170B2	Removable wafer expander for die bonding equipment A removable wafer expander for die bonding equipment for a singularized wafer supported by a flexible sticky substrate, the removable wafer expander provided with a first ring member to be coupled with a second ring member for remote expansion of the flexible sticky substrate therebetween before the mounting of the wafer expander onto the die bonding equipment.
US07675158B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit including a power supply, and semiconductor system including a semiconductor integrated circuit Provided are a semiconductor integrated circuit including a power supply, a semiconductor system including the semiconductor integrated circuit, and a method of forming the semiconductor integrated circuit. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a semiconductor substrate on a surface of which a plurality of electrical circuits and a plurality of power pads are mounted; an insulation layer stacked on the semiconductor substrate; a first conductive layer connected to a first power pad by a first via and stacked on the insulation layer; a second conductive layer connected to a second power pad by a second via, stacked on the insulation layer, and separated from the first insulation layer; and a power generation layer stacked on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and that generates voltage.
US07675146B2	Semiconductor device with leadframe including a diffusion barrier A semiconductor device includes a leadframe having a first face and an opposing second face, a portion of the first face defining a die pad, a diffusion barrier deposited on at least a portion of the die pad, and at least one chip coupled to the diffusion barrier.
US07675145B2	Apparatus, system and method for use in mounting electronic elements The present embodiments provide surface mount devices and/or systems. In some embodiments, the surface mount devices comprise a casing with a recess in a second surface; a first lead element partially encased by the casing comprising a coupling portion extending interior to the casing generally in a first direction and a chipset portion extending from the first coupling portion at a first acute angle and through an area exposed by the recess; a second lead element partially encased by the casing comprising a second coupling portion extending interior to the casing in a second direction substantially parallel to the first direction and a head portion extending from the second coupling portion at a second acute angle and partially terminating interior to the area exposed by the recess; and the chipset portion comprises a first indentation and a second indentation both extending into the area exposed through the recess.
US07675133B2	Persistent p-type group II-IV semiconductors A persistent p-type group II-VI semiconductor material is disclosed containing atoms of group II elements, atoms of group VI elements, and a p-type dopant which replaces atoms of the group VI element in the semiconductor material. The p-type dopant has a negative oxidation state. The p-type dopant causes formation of vacancies of atoms of the group II element in the semiconductor material. Fabrication methods and solid state devices containing the group II-VI semiconductor material are disclosed.
US07675132B2	Surface mounting optoelectronic component and method for producing same A method for producing a surface mounting optoelectronic component comprises the following steps: readying a base body with the optoelectronic transmitter and/or receiver arranged in a recess of the base body, filling the recess of the base body with a transparent, curable casting compound, and placing the optical device onto the base body, whereby the optical device comes into contact with the casting compound.
US07675131B2	Flip-chip image sensor packages and methods of fabricating the same There is provided an imager package including an image sensor die attached to a transparent substrate such that sensitive image sensing components on the sensor die face the transparent substrate. In accordance with an embodiment of the present technique, the imager package may be coupled to an external package via bond wires and other interconnect elements. The sensor die and bond wires may be protected by an encapsulant on which the interconnect elements may be disposed. The bond wires may enable placement of the interconnect elements partially or directly above the sensor die, as opposed to around an outer periphery of the sensor die. There is further provided a method of manufacturing an imager package wherein interconnect elements may be located partially or directly above the sensor die, enabling the manufacture of smaller imager packages than previously envisioned.
US07675130B2	Waveguide photodetector A waveguide photodetector detecting light incident on a light detecting end face includes: a substrate; and a layer stack structure on the substrate and including a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, an undoped semiconductor layer, and a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type. The undoped semiconductor layer includes two or more undoped light absorbing layers and undoped non-light-absorbing layers. One non-light-absorbing layer is disposed between adjacent undoped light absorbing layers. The non-light-absorbing layers have a bandgap wavelength shorter than the wavelength of the incident light that is detected.
US07675128B2	Method for forming a gate insulating layer of a semiconductor device Embodiments relate to a method for forming a gate insulating layer, which may include forming a device isolation layer being divided into a device active region and a device isolation region, growing a first oxide layer at an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate as a gate insulating layer, performing a first annealing process to form a diffusion barrier layer an interface between the first oxide layer and the device active region, etching and removing a first oxide layer and a diffusion barrier layer of the core power source wiring region by masking the input/output power source wiring region, growing a second oxide layer on the core power source wiring region, and performing a second annealing process to form an NO gate oxide layer on which an N-rich oxide layer at an interface of the core power source wiring region.
US07675119B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor device includes an N-channel transistor having an N-type gate electrode and a P-channel transistor having a P-type gate electrode which are formed on a semiconductor substrate. The P-type gate electrode includes a first silicon layer formed as the lowest layer, and doped with a P-type impurity; a second silicon layer formed on the first silicon layer; and a metal containing layer formed on the second silicon layer. The N-type gate electrode includes a third silicon layer formed as the lowest layer and doped with an N-type impurity; a fourth silicon layer formed on the third silicon layer; and a metal containing layer formed on the fourth silicon layer. At least one of the second silicon layer and the fourth silicon layer is doped with no impurity or an impurity of a conductive type opposite to that of the impurity in a corresponding one of the first silicon layer and third silicon layer.
US07675114B2	Trench transistor with increased avalanche strength In order to obtain an increased avalanche strength, a trench transistor is proposed in which the breakdown location is defined in a trench bottom region below body contact zones. This is done by means of a modulation of the dopant concentration in a drift zone and an insulation layer thickness modulation in the bottom region of the trenches.
US07675110B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same After an element isolation region is formed using a field-forming silicon nitride film, the silicon nitride film and a semiconductor substrate are patterned. Thereafter, the silicon nitride film and the semiconductor substrate are patterned, thereby forming a gate trench reaching the semiconductor substrate in an active region. Next, after a gate electrode is formed within a gate trench, the silicon nitride film is removed, thereby forming a contact hole. A contact plug is buried into this contact hole. Accordingly, a diffusion layer contact pattern becomes unnecessary, and the active region can be reduced. Because a gate electrode is buried in the gate trench, a gate length is increased, and a sub-threshold current can be reduced.
US07675108B2	Method for producing a buried N-doped semiconductor zone in a semiconductor body and semiconductor component A method for producing a buried n-doped semiconductor zone in a semiconductor body. In one embodiment, the method includes producing an oxygen concentration at least in the region to be doped in the semiconductor body. The semiconductor body is irradiated via one side with nondoping particles for producing defects in the region to be doped. A thermal process is carried out. The invention additionally relates to a semiconductor component with a field stop zone.
US07675106B2	Non-volatile reprogrammable memory A non-volatile memory point including a floating gate placed above a semiconductor substrate, the floating gate comprising active portions insulated from the substrate by thin insulating layers, and inactive portions insulated from the substrate by thick insulating layers that do not conduct electrons, the active portions being principally P-type doped, and the inactive portions comprising at least one N-type doped area forming a portion of a PN junction.
US07675105B2	Non-volatile memory device for 2-bit operation and method of fabricating the same A non-volatile memory device for 2-bit operation and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The non-volatile memory device includes an active region and a gate extending in a word line direction on a semiconductor substrate, and crossing each other repeatedly; a charge storage layer disposed below the gate, and confined at a portion where the gate and the active region cross; a charge blocking layer formed on the charge storage layer; a tunnel dielectric layer formed below the charge storage layer; first and second source/drain regions formed in the active region exposed by the gate; and first and second bit lines crossing the word line direction. The active region may be formed in a first zigzag pattern and/or the gate may be formed in a second zigzag pattern in symmetry with the first zigzag pattern.
US07675103B2	Spin transistor using ferromagnet A spin transistor comprises a semiconductor substrate part having a lower cladding layer, a channel layer and an upper cladding layer sequentially stacked therein, a ferromagnetic source and drain on the substrate part, and a gate on the substrate part to control spins of electrons passing through the channel layer. The lower cladding layer comprises a first lower cladding layer and a second lower cladding layer having a higher band gap than that of the first lower cladding layer. The upper cladding layer comprises a first upper cladding layer and a second upper cladding layer having a higher band gap than that of the first upper cladding layer. The source and the drain are buried in an upper surface of the substrate part and extend downwardly to or under the first upper cladding layer.
US07675101B2	Image sensor and manufacturing method thereof Provided is an image sensor. The image sensor can include a first substrate comprising a pixel portion in which a readout circuitry is provided and a peripheral portion in which a peripheral circuitry is provided. An interlayer dielectric including lines can be formed on the first substrate to connect with the readout circuitry and the peripheral circuitry. A crystalline semiconductor layer can be provided on a portion of the interlayer dielectric corresponding to the pixel portion through a bonding process. The crystalline semiconductor layer can include a first photodiode and second photodiode. The first and second photodiodes can be defined by device isolation trenches in the crystalline semiconductor layer. A device isolation layer can be formed on the crystalline semiconductor layer comprising the device isolation trenches. An upper electrode layer passes through the device isolation layer to connect with a portion of the first photodiode. An expose portion can be formed in the upper electrode layer to selectively expose an upper region of the first photodiode. A passivation layer can be formed on the first substrate on which the expose portion is provided.
US07675095B2	Solid-state imaging device and driving method therefor A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array including pixels two-dimensionally arranged in matrix form, with a signal line provided in each column of the arranged pixels, each pixel including a photoelectric conversion element, and a fixing unit fixing the potential of the signal line, which is obtained before the pixel has an operating period, to an intermediate potential between a first power-supply potential and a second power-supply potential.
US07675090B2	Semiconductor device having a contact on a buffer layer thereof and method of forming the same A semiconductor device and method of forming the same. The semiconductor device includes an epitaxially grown and conductive buffer layer having a contact covering a substantial portion of a bottom surface thereof and a lateral channel above the buffer layer. The semiconductor device also includes another contact above the lateral channel and an interconnect that connects the lateral channel to the buffer layer, operable to provide a low resistance coupling between the contact and the lateral channel.
US07675089B2	Semiconductor device In relation to the conventional semiconductor device provided with a plurality of FETs, there is room for improving the pair accuracy of the FET-pair. A semiconductor device includes a first FET, a second FET, a third FET and a fourth FET. The four FETs are provided in an active region (certain region). The four have each of gate electrodes, respectively. Each of the gate electrodes are arranged along a circle in this sequence in plan view. The four FETs have the substantially same geometry.
US07675077B2	Light-emitting diode and method for manufacturing the same A light-emitting diode (LED) and a method for manufacturing the same are described. The light-emitting diode comprises: a conductive substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a metal bonding layer deposed on the first surface of the conductive substrate; a reflective metal layer deposed on the metal bonding layer; an N-type semiconductor layer deposed on the reflective metal layer; an active layer deposed on the N-type semiconductor layer; a P-type semiconductor layer deposed on the active layer; a window layer deposed on the P-type semiconductor layer, wherein a thickness of the window layer is substantially at least 50 μm, and the window layer is composed of a transparent conductive material; and a P-type electrode deposed on the window layer.
US07675067B2	Thin film transistor substrate and manufacturing method thereof Embodiments of the invention provide a thin film transistor substrate, comprising: an insulating substrate; a gate wire formed on the insulating substrate; a first gate insulating layer made of an inorganic material, formed on the gate wire and having a first insulating layer contact hole for exposing at least a part of the gate wire; a second gate insulating layer made of an organic material, formed on the first gate insulating film and having a second insulating layer contact hole corresponding to the first insulating layer contact hole; a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the second gate insulating layer and being aparted from each other to be defining a channel area; and an organic semiconductor layer formed on the channel area.Accordingly, the present invention provides an organic TFT substrate in which a characteristic of a TFT is improved.
US07675066B1	Erase-on-demand memory cell An erase-on-demand memory cell 10(1) includes a memory layer 110 and a heating layer 130 that can heat memory layer 110 to at least an erase-effective temperature, to erase its data contents. Memory chips 270(1) and electronic systems 200 include cells 10(1). Electronic systems 200(1) include logic circuitry 210 to issue a signal to initiate heating. Electronic systems 200(2) include memory chips 270(2) with one or more erase-on-demand memory cells 10(2) that include a memory layer 110. One or more reservoirs 262 store chemicals. One or more valves 252 retain the chemicals, and respond to a signal to open, reacting the chemicals and/or exposing memory layers 110 to the chemicals. A method of erasing data contents of memory cells includes determining existence of an erase demand scenario, generating a signal in response to the erase demand scenario, and actuating erasure of the memory cells upon issue of the signal.
US07675062B2	Thin film transistor array panel for liquid crystal display A black matrix having an opening at pixels of a matrix array in a display area, a common wire including common pads and common signal lines, and gate pads in a peripheral area, and an alignment key in outer area to align interlayer thin films are formed on an insulating substrate. Red, blue and green color filters the edge of which overlap the black matrix are formed at the pixels on the insulating substrate, and an organic insulating layer covering the black matrix and the color filters and having a contact hole exposing the gate pad is formed thereon. A gate wire including a gate line connected to the gate pad through the contact hole and a gate electrode connected to the gate line is formed on the organic insulating layer, and a gate insulating layer covering the gate wire is formed on the organic insulating layer. A semiconductor pattern and ohmic contact layers are sequentially formed on the gate insulating layer of the gate electrode. A data wire including a source electrode and a drain electrode that are made of a same layer on the ohmic contact layers and separated from each other, and a data line connected to the source electrode and defining the pixels of a matrix array by crossing the gate line is formed on the gate insulating layer. A passivation layer covering the data wire and having contact holes exposing the gate pad and the data pad is formed, and a pixel wire including a pixel electrode, a redundant gate pad, a redundant data pad that are respectively connected to the drain electrode, the gate pad and the data pad through the contact holes.
US07675058B2	N-sulfonylaminocarbonyl containing compounds Compounds having two reactive functional groups are described that can be used to provide a connector group between a substrate and an amine-containing material. The first reactive functional group can be used to provide attachment to a surface of a substrate. The second reactive functional group is a N-sulfonylaminocarbonyl group that can be reacted with an amine-containing material, particularly a primary aliphatic amine, to form a carbonylimino-containing connector group. The invention also provides articles and methods for immobilizing amine-containing materials to a substrate.
US07675056B2	Germanium phototransistor with floating body A floating body germanium (Ge) phototransistor and associated fabrication process are presented. The method includes: providing a silicon (Si) substrate; selectively forming an insulator layer overlying the Si substrate; forming an epitaxial Ge layer overlying the insulator layer using a liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) process; forming a channel region in the Ge layer; forming a gate dielectric, gate electrode, and gate spacers overlying the channel region; and, forming source/drain regions in the Ge layer. The LPE process involves encapsulating the Ge with materials having a melting temperature greater than a first temperature, and melting the Ge using a temperature lower than the first temperature. The LPE process includes: forming a dielectric layer overlying deposited Ge; melting the Ge; and, in response to cooling the Ge, laterally propagating an epitaxial growth front into the Ge from an underlying Si substrate surface.
US07675054B2	Phase change memory devices and methods for fabricating the same Phase change memory devices and methods for fabricating the same are provided. A phase change memory device includes a first conductive electrode disposed in a first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer. A phase change material layer is disposed in the second dielectric layer and electrically connected to the first conductive electrode. A space is disposed in the second dielectric layer to at least isolate a sidewall of the phase change material layer and the second dielectric layer adjacent thereto. A second conductive electrode is disposed in the second dielectric layer and electrically connected to the phase change material layer.
US07675051B2	Sheet detector mechanism including sheet detector further including photoreceptors, and image forming apparatus including the same An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, a sheet conveyance mechanism, and a sheet detector. The image forming mechanism forms an image and transfers it onto the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance mechanism. The sheet detector is arranged upstream from an image transfer region and configured to detect the sheet. The sheet detector includes a light source, a plurality of photoreceptors, and a controller. The plurality of photoreceptors is arranged in line in a main-scanning direction and includes a first photoreceptor group and a second photoreceptor group. The first photoreceptor group changes output voltages when overridden by the side edge of the sheet. The second photoreceptor group includes an opposite end of the plurality of photoreceptors being out of the side edge of the sheet. The controller is configured to adjust a light emission amount in accordance with characteristics of the sheet.
US07675048B2	Wafer holding robot end effecter vertical position determination in ion implanter system A wafer handling robot, ion implanter system including a wafer handling robot and a related method are disclosed. An ion implanter system may include an ion implanting station including a load lock coupled thereto; a wafer handling robot located at least partially within the load lock, the wafer handling robot including an end effecter for handling at least one wafer, and a motor for moving the end effecter vertically; and a sensor positioned within the load lock to determine a vertical position of the end effecter.
US07675047B2	Technique for shaping a ribbon-shaped ion beam A technique for shaping a ribbon-shaped ion beam is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as an apparatus for shaping a ribbon-shaped ion beam. The apparatus may comprise an electrostatic lens having a substantially rectangular aperture for a ribbon-shaped ion beam to pass through, wherein a plurality of focusing elements are positioned along short edges of the aperture, and wherein each focusing element is separately biased and oriented to shape the ribbon-shaped ion beam.
US07675045B1	3-dimensional imaging at nanometer resolutions An apparatus and method for enabling precise, 3-dimensional, photoactivation localization microscopy (PALM) using selective, two-photon activation of fluorophores in a single z-slice of a sample in cooperation with time-gated imaging for reducing the background radiation from other image planes to levels suitable for single-molecule detection and spatial location, are described.
US07675035B2	Coupling and method for a transition-edge bolometer The invention relates to a circuit for transition-edge bolometers, which comprises a resistor element (1) arranged to operate in the transition-edge zone, and an amplifier (5) connected to the resistor element (1). According to the invention, in connection with the amplifier (5) means are arranged for implementing positive (4, 5) and negative (5, 2) feedbacks in the resistance measurement.
US07675034B2	Charged particle instrument equipped with optical microscope An optical microscope slide in a charged particle instrument such as an electron microscope or a focused ion beam instrument. Conventional microscope slides are not fit for use in an electron microscope as they are insulating and would thus charge when viewed in an electron microscope due to the impinging beam of charged particles. However, microscope slides exist that show a coating with a conductive layer of e.g. Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). These microscope slides are normally used for heating the object mounted on the slide by passing a current through the conductive layer. Experiments show that these microscope slides can be used advantageously in a charged particle instrument by connecting the conductive layer to e.g. ground potential, thereby forming a return path for the impinging charged particles and thus avoiding charging. The invention further relates to a charged particle instrument that is further equipped with an optical microscope.
US07675029B2	Apparatus and a method for visualizing target objects in a fluid-carrying pipe An apparatus for recording and displaying images of and identifying material types in a target object in a fluid carrying conduit includes a downhole unit. The downhole unit includes a controllable light source, the controllable light source structured to emit high energy photons. The downhole unit further includes a sensor unit structured to detect the high energy photons that are backscattered from the target object and to generate signals in response to the detected high energy photons. The apparatus also includes a control and display unit that includes a signal transmitter and a viewing screen structured to display at least one two-dimensional image that is generated using the signals from the sensor unit.
US07675019B2	Method and device for adjusting at least one light beam in an optical system A device (70) is disclosed for adjusting a light beam (1) in an optical system (100), whereby the optical system (100) defines an optical axis (60). The device (70) for adjusting comprises means for coupling-in (3) of the light beam into a housing part (80) of the device (70). The means for coupling-in (3) determines a coupling-in point (3a) and a coupled in light beam (9). At least a first and a second photo detector (10, 22) are arranged in different in distances to the coupling-in point. (3a). In the coupled in light beam (9) at least one beam splitter (36) is provided, which directs the coupled in light beam (9) on at least one of the photo detectors (10, 22).
US07675018B2	Circuit and method for driving organic light emitting diode A drive circuit for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), and a method for driving OLEDs, using the drive circuit. The drive circuit includes pixel circuits, each of which includes a first transistor for receiving a data voltage, and outputting a drive current to an OLED, a second transistor for transmitting the data voltage to the first transistor, a third transistor for connecting the gate and drain of the first transistor, a capacitor for storing a gate voltage of the first transistor, and a fourth transistor connected to the drain of the first transistor. The OLED is connected to the source of the first transistor by a fifth transistor, or is directly connected to the source of the first transistor without using the fifth transistor. The drive circuit generates drive current, based on a non-uniformity-compensated threshold voltage of the first transistor, thereby obtaining a uniform luminance of the OLED.
US07675016B2	Solid-state image pickup device and method of producing the same A solid-state image pickup device including a substrate having a first face and a second face which serves as an opposite face of the first face; a solid-state image pickup element having a plurality of electrodes and a light sensing part, an opposite face of the light sensing part being bonded to the first face via a bonding agent; a plurality of wires formed over the face, first ends of the wires serving as external electrode terminals; and a connection part for electrically connecting the electrodes to the wires, wherein an endless-shaped contraction frame formed of resin larger in thermal expansion coefficient than the substrate and image pickup element is bonded to and formed on surface of the substrate located outside the light sensing part so as to surround the light sensing part, and a light sensing face of the light sensing part is warped.
US07675010B2	Fixing apparatus A fixing apparatus an aspect of the present invention includes, a heating object which generates the heat by a magnetic flux produced from a coil which generates a predetermined magnetic flux by electromagnetic induction in accordance with a frequency of an input current, and a pressurization mechanism which can provide a predetermined pressure to the heating object, and a coil of the heating object is formed of a litz wire obtained by twisting the number of conductors having a small cross section which are not affected by the skin effect caused due to the frequency of the input current, the number of which allows passage of a quantity of current to be inputted.
US07675009B2	Electrode for machines for electromagnetic induction welding of the layers forming a multi-layer printed circuit A U-shaped magnetic circuit (2) provided with a field winding (3), including respective induction electrodes (5s, 5i) at an outer end of each arm of the magnetic circuit (2) Both electrodes are perpendicularly arranged as regards the multi-layer printed circuit, coaxially to each other and capable of vertical movement in both directions. The end of each induction electrode (5s, 5i) that comes into contact with the multi-layer printed circuit is provided with a thermal barrier, in order to prevent, during the welding, heat transmission by thermal conductivity from the welding zone to the induction electrode (5s, 5i).
US07675007B2	Heated architectural panel system and method Heated architectural panel temperature control systems and methods are provided for heating windows that are formed from heated architectural panels. The control system comprises the heated architectural panel that produces heat when connected to external AC power, a panel frame disposed around the panel periphery, and a temperature control circuit that is electrically connected to the window. The temperature control circuit, which may be disposed in the panel frame, controls the temperature of the panel by utilizing a Hall effect sensor and the panel temperature coefficient of resistance α. The panel may comprise insulated glass panels, laminated structures, or combinations thereof, where the window is disposed in an opening of a building.
US07674995B2	Method of processing postal items including management of digital fingerprints of the postal items The invention concerns a method for processing postal packets including managing digital impressions of the postal packets. In a method for processing postal packets, during a preliminary sorting of the packets, a digital image of a packet comprising an address information is formed, a digital impression (V-Id) is derived from said image which constitutes a logical identifier for the packet and the packet impression is recorded in memory corresponding to data indicating the packet address information, and during a second sorting of the packets, a digital image of a current packet is formed again (51) comprising an address information, a digital impression for the current packet is derived (52) from said image and a search is performed among the recorded impressions in the preliminary sorting for a match with the current packet impression.
US07674994B1	Method and apparatus for sorting metal A system for sorting metals from a batch of mixed material scrap includes an array of inductive proximity detectors, a processing computer and a sorting mechanism. The inductive proximity detectors identify the location of the metal pieces and the processing computer instructs the sorting mechanism to place the metal and non-metallic pieces into separate containers.
US07674972B2	Fold-in braided shield A braided shield includes a housing formed from a plurality of wires braided together and having a dual-layer configuration. The housing has an outer layer integrally formed with an inner layer. A support is at least partially disposed in the housing, and the inner layer is disposed between the support and the outer layer. The inner layer and outer layer reduce electromagnetic radiation leakage into/out of the housing by reducing the number of holes in the housing. Forming the braided shield includes providing the housing, which defines a longitudinal axis and a passage extending along the longitudinal axis. The housing has an end portion, and the end portion is compressed transverse to the longitudinal axis. The end portion is then forced into the passage. Accordingly, the braid shield reduces or eliminates electromagnetic radiation while providing a strong and consistent crimp with the support.
US07674965B2	Method and system for music notation A system and method of notating and teaching music are disclosed. The system and method includes referencing notes and other musical representations using symbols, such as numbers, letters and color. For example, music notation may include at least one set, wherein a single set comprises twelve notes that may be numbered from 1-12, in which the numbers 1-9 may be used for the first nine notes and the letters x, y and z may be used for notes ten through twelve. Each series of twelve notes may be grouped together into a set, identified as “A Set”; “B Set”; “C Set” and so forth.
US07674961B2	Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH919277 According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH919277. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH919277, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH919277 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH919277.
US07674960B2	Garden bean line EX 15340804 The invention provides seed and plants of the bean line designated EX 15340804. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of bean line EX 15340804, and to methods for producing a bean plant produced by crossing a plant of bean line EX 15340804 with itself or with another bean plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of bean line EX 15340804, including the pods and gametes of such plants.
US07674959B2	Axmi-027, axmi-036 and axmi-038, a family of delta-endotoxin genes and methods for their use Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a delta-endotoxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated delta-endotoxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS:2, 11 and 13, or the nucleotide sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOS:1, 10 and 12, as well as variants and fragments thereof.
US07674955B2	Transcription factor gene induced by water deficit conditions and abscisic acid from Helianthus annuus, promoter and transgenic plants A new transcription factor coding gene induced by water deficit or abscisic acid of Helianthus annuus, having a homeodomain associated to a leucine zipper, was characterized. The transcription factor is useful to be cloned in DNA constructions for transforming host cells and plants. The transgenic plants comprising the transcription factor gene are tolerant and resistant to harmful environmental conditions such as water stress and high salinity. A nucleic acid promoting sequence is also provided wherein the sequence is induced by water deficit or abscisic acid. Constructions, host cells and transgenic plants that comprise the transcription factor gene are provided.
US07674953B2	Method for producing transgenic plants with increased yield, comprising expressing of haemoglobin from Arabidopsis The invention relates generally to a method for improving growth of plants, under normal and under stress conditions, more particularly under osmotic stress and/or temperature extremes, comprising modifying plant haemoglobin gene expression and/or by modifying plant haemoglobin protein levels in a plant. The invention furthermore relates to a method for increasing yield of a plant, comprising modifying plant gene expression and/or by modifying plant haemoglobin levels in a plant. The invention also relates to a nucleic acid encoding a haemoglobin conferring this altered growth and stress tolerance.
US07674951B1	Isolated cellulose synthase promoter regions The invention relates to methods of inducing expression of coding sequences including cellulose synthase coding sequences in transgenic plants using promoters of cellulose synthase genes from Populus plant species and transgenic plants produced by the methods.
US07674950B2	Plant regulatory sequences for selective control of gene expression Promoters from male reproductive tissues are isolated from corn and wheat. These promoters can be used in plants to regulate transcription of target genes including genes for control of fertility, insect or pathogen tolerance, herbicide tolerance or any gene of interest.
US07674948B2	Window dressing A self-adherent window dressing includes a fabric layer bounded by an edge. The fabric layer has an adhesive side, an opposite non-adhesive side, and an opening therein to allow for viewing therethrough. A reinforcement member is adhered to at least a portion of the fabric layer. A transparent film layer closes the opening and has first and second opposing sides. The film layer first side is non-adhesive and is mounted on the fabric layer adhesive side to close the opening in the fabric layer. The film layer second side has a skin adhering adhesive portion and an adhesive-free portion. The adhesive-free portion is disposed inwardly of the opening. The film layer adhesive-free portion is adapted not to stick to a wound, connector, or catheter disposed between the film layer adhesive-free portion and skin.
US07674947B2	Recirculating combustion system The recirculation combustion system is installed in the exhaust stream of a combustion chamber to increase exhaust cleanliness and thermal efficiency. The system directs hot exhaust gases through a filtering system to remove the larger particulate materials and pollutants, and then return the gas back to the combustion chamber. This system includes a baghouse unit, a molten metal reactor system with automatic feed and waste removal, a separator system, an active exhaust stack and recirculation line control system, and an automatic oxygen and recirculation gas mixing system.
US07674922B2	Process for production of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol The present invention relates to a process for preparation of a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol compound or derivative thereof involving treating a first intermediate compound with an organoaluminum-based Lewis acid catalyst, under conditions effective to produce the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol compound or derivative thereof. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a process for preparation of a cannabidiol or cannabidiolate compound involving reacting a first starting compound with a second starting compound in the presence of a metal triflate catalyst, under conditions effective to form the cannabidiol or cannabidiolate compound. The present invention also relates to a compound of the formula: where R8, R9, and R10 are the same or different and independently selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, or halo, with R1, R2, and R3 defined herein.
US07674921B2	Internal 1,15-lactones of fluprostenol and related prostaglandin F2α analogs and their use in the treatment of glaucoma and intraocular hypertension Novel derivatives of prostaglandin compounds of the F-series (PGF), specifically macrocyclic internal 1,15-lactones of fluprostenol and related PGF analogs, such as cloprostenol or latanoprost. The novel analogs can be formulated into ophthalmic solutions and topically applied for the treatment of the increased intraocular pressure caused by glaucoma and the reduction of ocular hypertension.
US07674918B2	Fluorescent dyes and complexes A fluorescent dye comprising a xanthene-derived fluorophore having the formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from H, alkyl, alkoxy, alcohol, ether, alkenyl, alkenoxy, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl and amido, except that R1, R4 and/or R5 is not H when bonded to Y, Y1 or Y2, respectively; X is either O− or S−; and at least one of Y, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5 is a group for covalently bonding the dye, optionally through. the use of a coupling agent, to a target molecule, and is otherwise H. The dye may be covalently attached to a target molecule to form a complex, and the dye and/or complex finds use in cell analysis techniques, particularly pH measurement and analysis of kinetics of migration.
US07674912B2	Pro-drugs of N-thiazol-2-yl-benzamide derivatives The invention relates to compounds of the formula I A-B-Z I wherein the variables are as defined in the claims. The compounds are pro-drugs of A2A-receptor ligands with improved aqueous solubility, and are useful in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders where an A2A-receptor is implicated.
US07674911B2	Method for the production of hydrogen-bis (chelato) borates and alkali metal-bis (chelato) borates Methods are described for the production of hydrogen-bis(chelato)borates of the general formula H[BL1L2] and of alkali metal-bis(chelato)borates of the general formula M[BL1L2] where M=Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs L1=—OC(O)—(CR1R2)n—C(O)O— or —OC(O)—(CR3R4)—O— where n=0 or 1, R1, R2, R3, R4 independently of one another denote H, alkyl, aryl or silyl, L2=—OC(O)—(CR5R6)n—C(O)O— or —OC(O)—(CR7R8)—O— where n=0 or 1, R5, R6, R7, R8 independently of one another denote H, alkyl, aryl or silyl, wherein the respective raw materials are mixed in solid form without the addition of solvents and are reacted. Lithium-bis(oxalato)borate, lithium-bis(malonato)borate, caesium-bis-(oxalato)borate, caesium-bis-(malonato)borate and the mixed salts lithium(lactato,oxalato)borate and lithium(glycolato,oxalato)borate for example may be produced in this way.
US07674900B2	Chiral tertiary aminoalkylnaphthols The present invention provides bipyrimidinyl diphosphine compounds of the formula wherein R is optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; R′ and R″ are independently optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; or an enantiomer thereof; or an enantiomeric mixture thereof. The compounds of the formula (I) are chiral atropisomeric bipyrimidinyl diphosphine compounds and, thus, may be employed as ligands to generate chiral transition metal catalysts which may be applied in a variety of asymmetric reactions, e.g., in palladium catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions. The compounds of the present invention are easily accessible in high enantiomeric purity according to the methods disclosed herein.
US07674892B2	Hsp70 from Arthrobacter The hsp70 gene from an Arthrobacter species has been isolated and sequenced. The encoded protein is believed to be highly immunogenic, especially in fish, and also has utility as a non-specific adjuvant, and as an adjuvanting carrier for heterologous antigens.
US07674891B2	Nucleic acid molecules encoding GPR84 The present invention is an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding CD36, Gqi9, and G protein-coupled receptor 84 (GPR84) proteins as well as vectors and recombinant host cells which co-express CD36, Gqi9, and GPR84 proteins for use in identifying modulators of GPR84 activity.
US07674885B2	Process for concentration of macromolecules The invention provides methods for concentrating a macromolecule from a solution comprising the macromolecule and an organic polymer by first subjecting the solution to ultrafiltration to produce a first retentate solution, then adjusting the conductivity of the first retentate solution such that any protein precipitation induced by the organic polymer is essentially prevented to produce a second retentate solution, and then subjecting the second retentate solution to ultrafiltration. In a preferred embodiment, the conductivity is adjusted by diafiltration against water, suitable diluent or buffer.Preferably, the invention pertains to the concentration of solutions of native or recombinant proteins. The invention further pertains preferably to methods for the concentration of cell culture supernatant comprising a product protein and organic polymers of the PLURONIC family of nonionic block co-polymers, and more preferably comprising PLURONIC F-68 nonionic block co-polymer.
US07674884B2	Neutralizing antibodies and methods of use thereof This invention provides monoclonal antibodies that recognize the Toll-like Receptor 4/MD-2 receptor complex, and monoclonal antibodies that recognize the TLR4/MD2 complex as well as TLR4 when not complexed with MD-2. The invention further provides methods of using the humanized monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics. This invention also provides soluble chimeric proteins, methods of expressing and purifying soluble chimeric proteins, and methods of using soluble chimeric proteins as therapeutics, in screening assays and in the production of antibodies.
US07674874B2	Methods of producing coating compositions containing phosphorous Methods of making a coating composition including a film-forming material having a covalently bonded phosphorous atom, the phosphorous atom having at least one covalently bonded oxygen atom. Coating compositions can be used to coat a substrate, such as a metal substrate, by electrodeposition. Applied coatings containing the film-forming resins can be cured to form crosslinked films on substrates.
US07674872B2	Method of producing high molecular weight polymer The present invention provides methods of producing high molecular weight polymer. A method of forming polycarbonate includes the step of combining in a reaction mixture a diaryl carbonate, a transesterification catalyst, an aliphatic dihydroxy compound, and a diacid compound in a reactor system. The temperature and pressure of the reactor system are adjusted to a first reactor setpoints and the reaction mixture is monitored to detect initiation of the exothermic oligomerization reaction. The reactor setpoint are adjusted to second reactor setpoints after detection of initiation of the exothermic oligomerization reaction. The reactor system is maintained at the second reactor setpoints to allow the reaction mixture to react to form an oligomer mixture. The oligomer mixture is then introduced to a polymerization reactor system operating under melt polymerization conditions sufficient to polymerize the oligomer mixture to a Mw of at least 9,000 g/mol (PC) and to remove the phenolic byproduct from the oligomer mixture to form polycarbonate.
US07674867B2	Process for the preparation of an metal-organic compound comprising at least one imine ligand The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a metal-organic compound, comprising at least one phosphinimine ligand, characterized in that the HA adduct of a phosphinimine ligand according to formula (1) is contacted with a metal-organic reagent of formula (2) in the presence of 1, respectively 2 equivalents of a base, wherein HA represents an acid, of which H represents its proton and A its conjugate base, with Y═N—H as formula (1), and Mv(L1)k(L2)l(L3)m(L4)nX as formula (2), and wherein Y is a substituted phosphorous atom, and M represents a group 4 or group 5 metal ion, V represents the valency of the metal ion, being 3, 4 or 5 L1, L2, L3, and L4 represent a ligand or a group 17 halogen atom on M and may be equal or different, k, l, m, n=0, 1, 2, 3, 4 with k+l+m+n+1=V, and X represents a group 17 halogen atom. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of a polyolefin by making a metal-organic compound according to the process of the invention, wherein the base is an olefin polymerization compatible base, which metal-organic compound is activated anywhere in, or before a polymerization reactor.
US07674864B2	Polymeric hybrid precursors, polymeric hybrid precursor composite matrices, medical devices, and methods Polymeric hybrid precursors, mixtures of polymeric hybrid precursors and polymers, and polymer composite matrices prepared from the mixture of the polymeric hybrid precursors and the polymer. The mixture of the polymeric hybrid precursors and the polymer can undergo a process to form the polymer composite matrix having a cross-linked network of a silasesquioxane based polymer formed from the polymeric hybrid precursors that interpenetrates the polymer. The polymeric hybrid precursors include chemical linkage moieties that are capable of forming non-covalent bonds with portions of the polymer. The polymer composite matrices are useful as biomaterials in medical devices.
US07674860B2	Redispersible powder and its aqueous dispersion, preparation, process and use The invention relates to a redispersible powder obtainable by (co)polymerization, using a polymer with cationic functionality in an aqueous medium, optionally accompanied by the use of conventional additives, the polymer with cationic functionality being obtained by (co)polymerization in an aqueous medium of olefinically unsaturated (co)monomers, wherein at least one (co)monomer has a cationic functionality, further (co)monomers are added and polymerization takes place in the presence of suitable initiators, and by drying the aqueous dispersion obtained, the (co)polymerizate having one or more reactive groups. According to another embodiment, the polymer with cationic functionality is formed in situ in the presence of a seed. According to another embodiment, the process is controlled in such a way that a (co)polymerizate particle with heterogeneous morphology is formed. The invention also relates to the aqueous dispersions, a process for the preparation of the redispersible powder and the use thereof.
US07674836B2	Method of making macroporous cation exchange resins Methods of making macroporous cation exchange resins are described. The macroporous cation exchange resins are in the form of particles such as beads that contain a hydrophilic, crosslinked, (meth)acrylic-type polymeric material. The macroporous cation exchange resins are prepared using an inverse suspension polymerization process in the presence of a water soluble, organic, aliphatic porogen having at least three hydroxy groups.
US07674834B2	Colloidal dispersion of particles of a rare-earth vanadate or phosphovanadate The invention concerns a colloidal dispersion of a vanadate or a phosphovanadate of at least a rare earth comprising either a complex-forming agent having a pK higher than 2.5, or an anion of a monovalent acid, soluble in water and having a pKa ranging between 2.5 and 5. The dispersion is obtained by contacting a colloidal dispersion or a dispersion of initial complexes comprising at least a rare earth compound and at least a complex-forming agent or an anion of said monovalent acid and whereof the pH has been adjusted to a value of at least 7, with vanadate ions, then, in adjusting the pH of the resulting medium to a value of at least 9 and heating.
US07674832B2	Compositions for promoting wound healing and treating psoriasis The present invention relates to compositions and methods for promoting healing of cutaneous, mucosal and/or mucocutaneous lesions associated with the presence of a mycoplasma and one or more non-mycoplasma microorganisms. The compositions and methods of the invention also relate to the reduction of joint pain, column pain, and/or skeletal muscle pain.
US07674829B2	Compounds for the treatment of AIDS and other viral diseases The present invention provides methods for treating Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and other viral diseases and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) related infections by administering one or more compounds of formula I: wherein: the dotted line represents a single or a double bond; and R1 and R2 are the same or different and independently of each other represent —CH2OH, —CH2OR4, —CH(OH)CH3, —CH(OR4)CH3 or a group represented by the formula: or salts or hydrates thereof in a carrier which minimizes micellar formation or van der Waals attraction of molecules of said compound. The invention also provides S enantiomeric forms of such compounds which possess the ability to inhibit cell growth whilst being of low toxicity to such cells and methods of making such compounds.
US07674827B2	Indanyl- and tetrahydronaphtyl-amino-thiourea compounds for combating animal pests Indanyl- and Tetrahydronaphtyl-amino-thiourea compounds for combating animal pestsThe present invention relates to Indanyl- and Tetrahydronaphtyl-amino-thiourea compounds of formula I wherein the variables R1 to R4 are as in the description. The invention relates also to methods of combating or controlling insects, arachnids or nematodes, to methods for protecting growing plants from attack or infestation by insects, arachnids or nematodes, to methods for the protection of seeds from soil insects and of the seedlings' roots and shoots from soil and foliar insects and to methods for treating, controlling, preventing or protecting animals against infestation or infection.
US07674826B2	Use of a nutraceutical compositions in animal feed This invention relates to the novel use of a composition comprising benzoic acid or a derivative of benzoic. It has been found surprisingly that the long-term ingestion of benzoic acid by swine was followed by a significant increase of the bone resistance and mineralization. The benzoic acid or its derivative can be administered to the animal either in its feed composition or in its drinking water.
US07674812B2	Triple anti-irritant composition The present invention relates to a composition comprising two or more anti-irritants, each having at least about 7.2% oxygen content. In a separate embodiment, the composition may be defined to include a skin conditioning agent, a skin protectant agent, and an anti-irritant agent, each having an oxygen content of at least about 7.2%. The invention further comprises methods of treating and preventing skin conditions by applying the composition to the skin, and then optionally washing the skin.
US07674793B2	Tricyclic dihydropyrazines as potassium channel openers The present invention is directed to novel tricyclic dihydropyrazine derivatives of Formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders related to potassium channel.
US07674791B2	Triazolopyrazines and methods of making and using the same The invention is based on the discovery that compounds of formula (I) possess unexpectedly high affinity for the A2a adenosine receptor, and can be useful as antagonists thereof for preventing and/or treating numerous diseases, including Parkinson's disease. In one embodiment, the invention features a compound of formula I (See formula on paper copy)
US07674787B2	Conformationally constrained Smac mimetics and the uses thereof The invention relates to conformationally constrained mimetics of Smac which function as inhibitors of Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins. The invention also relates to the use of these mimetics for inducing apoptotic cell death and for sensitizing cells to inducers of apoptosis.
US07674782B2	Phosphorylcholine group-containing compound and method for producing same The present invention is a phosphorylcholine-containing chemical compound represented by the following formula (1) or (2). (CH3)3N+CH2CH2PO4−CH2COOH (1) (CH3)3N+CH2CH2PO4−CH2COONa (2) The object of the present invention is to provide a new phosphorylcholine-containing compound that is useful as a surface treatment agent or a source material of a surface treatment agent. Another object is to provide a manufacturing method that has a high industrial utility value.
US07674758B2	Fabric softening compositions comprising free fatty acid Fabric conditioning compositions comprising at least 10% by weight free fatty acid are useful in softening fabrics.
US07674755B2	Formulation for removal of photoresist, etch residue and BARC A formulation for removing photoresist, ion implanted photoresist, etch residue or BARC comprises: an ammonium hydroxide and a 2-aminobenzothiazole, remainder water. Preferably the formulation comprises: tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide, tolyltriazole, propylene glycol, 2-aminobenzothiazole, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, remainder water; more preferably: tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide 1-15 wt %, tolyltriazole 1-5 wt %, propylene glycol 5-15 wt %, 2-aminobenzothiazole 1-10 wt %; dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether 20-45 wt %, remainder water. The invention is also a method of removing materials selected from the group consisting of photoresist, etch residue, BARC and combinations thereof, from a substrate comprising: applying a formulation, described above, to the substrate to remove the material from the substrate.
US07674753B2	Treatment fluids and methods of forming degradable filter cakes comprising aliphatic polyester and their use in subterranean formations Presented herein are improved bridging agents comprising a degradable material, improved subterranean treatment fluids comprising such improved bridging agents, and methods of using such improved subterranean treatment fluids in subterranean formations. An example of a method presented is a method of drilling a well bore in a subterranean formation. Another example of a method presented is a method of forming a self-degrading filter cake in a subterranean formation. Another example of a method presented is a method of degrading a filter cake in a subterranean formation. An example of a composition of the present invention is a treatment fluid including a viscosifier, a fluid loss control additive, and a bridging agent comprising a degradable material. Another example of a composition presented is a bridging agent comprising a degradable material.
US07674747B1	Appearance changing decorations on fabric using disappearing ink A process to produce novelty fabric decorations comprising of thermochromic (heat-activated) disappearing fabric ink, that is screen printed onto a fabric in predetermined patterns, whereby allowing a fabric decoration to perform a dramatic transformation or allowing a hidden image or a hidden message printed with standard fabric inks to remain concealed, until such time that the thermochromic disappearing ink begins a transition to transparent, causing the decoration to dramatically transform or reveal the hidden graphic or the hidden message resulting in an interactive, ever-changing article of clothing.
US07674742B2	Catalyst for dimethyl carbonate synthesis There is provided a catalyst for dimethyl carbonate synthesis which has a high conversion rate under the supercritical condition of CO2 and can be handled easily. The catalyst for dimethyl carbonate is obtained by loading SO42− or PO43− on a carrier composed of a compound having a solid acid site, and is used to produce dimethyl carbonate from acetone dimethyl carbonate and CO2 in a supercritical state. The component having a solid acid site is preferably one or more of ZrO2, Al2O3, and TiO2.
US07674741B2	Components and catalysts for the polymerization of olefins The present invention relates to a solid catalyst component for the polymerization of olefins CH2═CHR in which R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical with 1-12 carbon atoms, comprising Mg, Ti, halogen and an electron donor selected from y-butyrolactone derivatives of a particular formula. Said catalyst components, when used in the polymerization of olefins and in particular of propylene, are capable to give polymers in high yields and with high isotactic index expressed in terms of high xylene insolubility.
US07674740B2	Regeneration of ionic liquid catalysts A process for regenerating a used acidic ionic liquid catalyst comprising contacting the used ionic liquid catalyst with an isoparaffin-containing stream and Broensted acid in a reaction zone under alkylation conditions for a time sufficient to increase the activity of the ionic liquid catalyst is disclosed.
US07674739B2	Regeneration of ionic liquid catalyst using a metal in the absence of added hydrogen A process for regenerating a used acidic ionic liquid catalyst comprising contacting the used ionic liquid catalyst with at least one metal in a regeneration zone in the absence of added hydrogen under regeneration conditions for a time sufficient to increase the activity of the ionic liquid catalyst is described. In one embodiment, regeneration is conducted in the presence of a hydrocarbon solvent.
US07674735B2	Glass-ceramic seals for use in solid oxide fuel cells The invention is directed to highly crystalline, frit-sintered glass-ceramic materials and seals made using them that are suitable for solid oxide fuel cell applications. The seals have a coefficient of thermal expansion in the range of 70-130×10−7° C., preferably 85-115×10−7° C. The glass-ceramic materials have a crystalline component and a glass component, the crystalline component being >50% of the glass-ceramic and the glass component being <50%. In one preferred embodiment the crystalline component is >75%. Regarding the crystalline component only, >50% of the crystals in the crystalline component of the glass-ceramic has a structure selected from the structural groups represented by walstromite, cyclowollastonite, μ-(Ca,Sr)SiO3, kalsilite, kaliophilite and wollastonite (the primary crystalline phase) and the remaining <50% of the crystalline component is at least one secondary crystalline phase. Generally, the glass-ceramics of the invention are useful as metal-to-metal, metal-to-ceramic and ceramic-to-ceramic sealing agents.
US07674734B2	Polypropylene nonwoven fabric and use thereof A polypropylene based nonwoven fabric is excellent in surface appearance and stretch properties and exhibits a small residual strain and excellent adhesiveness to polyolefins. The nonwoven fabric is obtained by forming a polypropylene resin composition comprising 1 to 40 weight parts of (i) an isotactic polypropylene, and 60 to 99 weight parts of (ii) a propylene/ethylene/α-olefin copolymer obtained by copolymerizing 45 to 89 mole % of propylene, 10 to 25 mole % of ethylene and the balance of α-olefin having 4 to 20 carbon atoms (with the proviso that the copolymerized amount of the α-olefin having 4 to 20 carbon atoms does not exceed 30 mole %), characterized by a small residual strain after stretching at a stretch ratio of 150%. The nonwoven fabric can be effectively used as sanitary materials or the like by virtue of its characteristics including stretch properties.
US07674732B2	Felt for papermaking A felt for papermaking which is less prone to be crushed during operation of high speed paper machine, promptly begins stable papermaking after starting the machine, assures durability, and maintains surface smoothness.
US07674731B2	Fibres made from copolymers of propylene and hexene-1 A fiber for thermal bonding comprising semicrystalline random copolymers of propylene, 1-hexene and optionally another α-olefin, the amount of 1-hexene being from 0.75 to less 1.52 mol % (i.e. 1.5 to less than 3 wt %) with respect to the total weight of the copolymer. The said copolymers possess a value of melt flow rate (MFR) ranging from 4 to 35 g/10 min and a molecular weight distribution, in terms of the ratio between weight average molecular weight and numeric average molecular weight ( Mw/ Mn), ranging from 4 to 12.
US07674729B2	Method and apparatus for imprinting a circuit pattern using ultrasonic vibrations Embodiments of a method and apparatus for imprinting a trench pattern on a substrate using ultrasonic vibrations. The trench pattern corresponds to a circuit pattern that is to be formed on the substrate, the circuit pattern including a number of conductive traces and other conductive elements. In one embodiment, the substrate includes a base layer and a layer of dielectric material overlying a surface of the base layer, and the circuit pattern is formed in the dielectric layer.
US07674728B2	Deposition from liquid sources A liquid injector is used to vaporize and inject a silicon precursor into a process chamber to form silicon-containing layers during a semiconductor fabrication process. The injector is connected to a source of silicon precursor, which preferably comprises liquid trisilane in a mixture with one or more dopant precursors. The mixture is metered as a liquid and delivered to the injector, where it is then vaporized and injected into the process chamber.
US07674725B2	Treatment solution and method of applying a passivating layer A treatment solution for a semiconductor wafer comprising water, a passivating reagent and a surfactant. The treatment solution is either mixed with a cleaning fluid, a rinsing fluid or a drying vapor, and is used in a cleaning apparatus employing a Marangoni dryer.
US07674724B2	Oxidizing method and oxidizing unit for object to be processed An oxidizing method for an object to be processed according to the present invention includes: an arranging step of arranging a plurality of objects to be processed in a processing container whose inside can be vacuumed, the processing container having a predetermined length, a supplying unit of an oxidative gas being provided at one end of the processing container, a plurality of supplying units of a reducing gas being provided at a plurality of positions in a longitudinal direction of the processing container; an atmosphere forming step of supplying the oxidative gas and the reducing gas into the processing container in order to form an atmosphere having active oxygen species and active hydroxyl species in the processing container; and an oxidizing step of oxidizing surfaces of the plurality of objects to be processed in the atmosphere. The atmosphere forming step has: a selecting step of selecting a predetermined supplying unit of a reducing gas among the plurality of supplying units of a reducing gas, based on an arrangement number and respective arrangement positions of the plurality of objects to be processed in the processing container; an oxidative-gas supplying step of supplying the oxidative gas into the processing container by means of the supplying unit of an oxidative gas; and an reducing-gas supplying step of supplying the reducing gas into the processing container by means of only the supplying unit of a reducing gas selected by the selecting step.
US07674709B2	Phase change memory cell with high read margin at low power operation A memory cell device includes a first electrode, phase-change material adjacent the first electrode, a second electrode adjacent the phase-change material, a diffusion barrier adjacent the phase-change material, and isolation material adjacent the diffusion barrier for thermally isolating the phase-change material. The diffusion barrier prevents diffusion of the phase-change material into the isolation material.
US07674705B2	Method of forming a semiconductor device A method of forming a semiconductor device. A first wiring level is formed on a top surface of a substrate. The first wiring level includes alternating layers of a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material. The layers of the first dielectric material includes at least two layers of the first dielectric material. The layers of the second dielectric material includes at least two layers of the second dielectric material. The first dielectric material includes an organic dielectric material. The second dielectric material includes an inorganic dielectric material. The substrate includes one or more dielectric materials. A first layer of the layers of the first dielectric material includes the organic dielectric material being in direct mechanical contact with the substrate. The layers of the first dielectric material and the layers of the second dielectric material are a same number of layers.
US07674703B1	Gridded contacts in semiconductor devices Mask sets, layout design, and methods for forming contacts in devices are described. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a exposing a first photo resist layer using a first light beam thereby forming first features. The first exposure is performed by the first light beam passing through a first dipole illuminator and then a first mask. A dipole axis of the first dipole illuminator is oriented in a first direction. After exposing the first photo resist layer, forming second features using a second exposure with a second light beam. The second exposure is performed by the second light beam passing through a second dipole illuminator and then a second mask. A dipole axis of the second dipole illuminator is oriented in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are not perpendicular. The first and the second features comprise a pattern for forming contact holes.
US07674702B1	Solder bump formation in electronics packaging A polymer stencil is applied to the active surface of a wafer. The stencil has openings that at least partially overlay associated metallization pads on the wafer and divider strips positioned between adjacent openings. The divider strips are arranged to overlay portions of associated metallization pads so that at least two adjacent openings overlay portions of each metallization pad. After the stencil has been positioned, a solder paste is applied to the stencil openings. The solder paste may then be reflowed with the polymer stencil remaining in place. The solder naturally creeps under the stencil so that unitary solder bumps are formed on each metallization pad. The described methods and arrangements can be used to create low profile solder bumps that are not attainable using conventional solder bump formation techniques.
US07674701B2	Methods of forming metal layers using multi-layer lift-off patterns Methods of forming interconnections for an electronic device including a substrate may be provided. For example, first and second patterned layers may be formed on the substrate wherein an opening in the first and second patterned layers exposes portions of the substrate, wherein the first and second patterned layers have different compositions, and wherein the first patterned layer is between the second patterned layer and the substrate. A metal layer may be formed on the second patterned layer and on portions of the substrate exposed through the opening in the first and second patterned layers. The second patterned layer and portions of the metal layer thereon may be removed while maintaining portions of the metal layer on the portions of the substrate exposed through the opening. After removing the second mask layer, solder may be provided on the metal layer.
US07674696B2	Method of fabricating semiconductor device In one embodiment, a gate insulating layer, a conductive layer, and a metal layer are formed over a semiconductor substrate. An ion implantation region is formed in an interface of the conductive layer and the metal layer by performing an ion implantation process. A flash annealing process is performed on the ion-implanted semiconductor substrate. The metal layer, the conductive layer, and the gate insulating layer are patterned.
US07674692B2	Nitride semiconductor light-emitting device and fabrication method thereof Provided is a method of fabricating a nitride semiconductor light-emitting device comprising; providing a nitride semiconductor light-emitting device with a GaN layer, bringing the nitride semiconductor light-emitting device into contact with hydrogen separation metal, vibrating the nitride semiconductor light-emitting device and the hydrogen separation metal, removing hydrogen from the GaN layer of the nitride semiconductor light-emitting device and separating the hydrogen separation metal from the nitride semiconductor light-emitting device.
US07674688B2	Sawing method for a semiconductor element with a microelectromechanical system A sawing method for a Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) semiconductor device, wherein a gum material is disposed between a wafer having at least one MEMS and a carrier, and the gum material is disposed around the MEMS. The wafer is sawed according to the position correspondingly above the gum material. Finally, the carrier and the gum material are removed. By disposing the gum material between the carrier and the wafer, the MEMS are protected, and the wafer and the MEMS can avoid the pollution of water and foreign material, so that the yield can be improved. Furthermore, the wafer is sawed from the backside till the gum material without sawing through the gum material, so that the carrier is not sawed. Therefore, the carrier can be reused, such that the cost is reduced.
US07674687B2	Method and structure for fabricating multiple tiled regions onto a plate using a controlled cleaving process A reusable transfer substrate member for forming a tiled substrate structure. The member including a transfer substrate, which has a surface region. The surface region comprises a plurality of donor substrate regions. Each of the donor substrate regions is characterized by a donor substrate thickness and a donor substrate surface region. Each of the donor substrate regions is spatially disposed overlying the surface region of the transfer substrate. Each of the donor substrate regions has the donor substrate thickness without a definable cleave region.
US07674677B2	Semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate provided with an active region including a gate forming area, a source forming area and a drain forming area. A recess is formed in the gate forming area. A gate is formed over the gate forming area that is formed with the recess and includes an insulation layer formed at an upper end portion of a side wall of the recess that is in contact with the source forming area. A source area and a drain area are formed in the active region on opposite sides of the gate.
US07674675B2	Method of forming an integrated SOI fingered decoupling capacitor The invention provides a fingered decoupling capacitor in the bulk silicon region that are formed by etching a series of minimum or sub-minimum trenches in the bulk silicon region, oxidizing these trenches, removing the oxide from at least one or more disjoint trenches, filling all the trenches with either in-situ doped polysilicon, intrinsic polysilicon that is later doped through ion implantation, or filling with a metal stud, such as tungsten and forming standard interconnects to the capacitor plates.
US07674668B2	Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device After a gate electrode is formed on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate, low concentration layers are formed on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate by implanting impurities therein, with using the gate electrode as a mask. Thereafter, first sidewalls and second sidewalls are formed on the both side surfaces of the gate electrode. Subsequently, nitrogen or the like is ion-implanted into the semiconductor substrate, with using the first sidewalls, the second sidewalls and the gate electrode as a mask, thereby forming a crystallization-control region (CCR) on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. Then, after the second sidewalls are removed, high concentration layers for a source and a drain are formed on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US07674665B2	Method of fabricating Schottky barrier transistor Provided is a method of fabricating a Schottky barrier transistor. The method includes (a) forming a pair of cavities for forming a source forming portion and a drain forming portion having a predetermined depth and parallel to each other and a channel forming portion having a fin shape between the cavities in a substrate; (b) filling the pair of cavities with a metal; (c) forming a channel, a source, and a drain by patterning the channel forming portion, the source forming portion, and the drain forming portion in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the channel forming portion; (d) sequentially forming a gate oxide layer and a gate metal layer that cover the channel, the source, and the drain on the substrate; and (e) forming a gate electrode corresponding to the channel by patterning the gate metal layer, wherein one of the operations (b) through (e) further comprises forming a Schottky barrier by annealing the substrate.
US07674659B2	Method for fabricating a thin film transistor The present invention relates to a thin film transistor for preventing short of circuit by step and a method for fabricating the thin film transistor and provides a thin film transistor including a buffer layer formed on glass substrate; an activation layer formed on the buffer layer; and a gate insulation layer formed on the buffer layer including the activation layer, with the buffer layer having a step formed between a lower part of the activation layer and a part except the lower part of the activation layer.
US07674651B2	Mounting method for semiconductor parts on circuit substrate A method for mounting a semiconductor part on a circuit substrate is provided, which includes preparing the semiconductor part having a surface thereof provided with a plurality of stud-bumps, preparing a solder substrate having a surface thereof on which solid-solders corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of stud-bumps are arranged, preparing the circuit substrate having a surface thereof provided with connecting pads corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of stud-bumps, attaching the corresponding solid-solders on the solder substrate to respective tip ends of the plurality of stud bumps, separating the solid-solders attached to the tip ends of the stud-bumps from the solder substrate, contacting the solid-solder attached to respective ones of the tip ends of the stud-bumps with the corresponding connecting pads, and heating the solid-solders contacted with the corresponding connecting pads thereby establishing solder connection between respective ones of the stud-bumps and the corresponding connecting pads.
US07674648B2	Extended dynamic range using variable sensitivity pixels A method for reading out an image sensor, the method includes the steps of integrating charge in a photodetector with the photodetector at a first capacitance; reading the resulting signal level at a first time with the photodetector at the first capacitance; changing the photodetector capacitance to a second capacitance; and reading the signal level associated with the photodetector at the second capacitance.
US07674643B2	Gallium nitride semiconductor light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same A gallium nitride semiconductor LED includes a substrate for growing a GaN semiconductor material, an n-type GaN clad layer formed on the substrate and doped with Al, an active layer having a quantum well structure formed on the n-type GaN clad layer, and a p-type GaN clad layer formed on the active layer.
US07674638B2	Sensor device and production method therefor A compact sensor device having stable sensor characteristics and the production method are provided. The sensor device is formed with a sensor substrate and a pair of package substrates bonded to both surface of the sensor substrate. The sensor substrate has a frame with an opening, a movable portion held in the opening to be movable relative to the frame, and a detecting portion for outputting an electric signal according to a positional displacement of the movable portion. Surface-activated regions are formed on the frame of the sensor substrate and the package substrates by use of an atomic beam, an ion beam or a plasma of an inert gas. By forming a direct bonding between the surface-activated regions of the sensor substrate and each of the package substrates at room temperature, it is possible to avoid inconvenience resulting from residual stress at the bonding portion.
US07674628B2	Remote identification of explosives and other harmful materials Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to the remote detection of explosives and other harmful materials. In some such embodiments, such remote detection involves the use of semiconducting nanoparticles. In some or other such embodiments, such remote detection involves the use of photoacoustic detection and/or spectroscopy. In some such latter embodiments, the photoacoustic system comprises a light source 201 that passes through a chopper 202 and into a photoacoustic cell 203 comprising the analyte gas. Pressure waves within the cell are detected as sound waves by microphones 204. The signal produced by the microphones can then be amplified and transmitted to a remote location, typically via a wireless means.
US07674624B2	Method for real-time determination of volume fractions of a production fluid in a hydrocarbon reservoir A preferred method for determining the flow fraction of a mixture of water, gas and oil in a hydrocarbon reservoir includes measuring pressure and density of the mixture over time, determining a function which approximates a relationship between the density and pressure measurements, calculating a derivative of the function over time, and determining flow fraction based, in part, on the derivative. Preferably, transient data points are eliminated and the remaining set of data points are weight averaged to improve signal to noise ratio. Bubble point pressure, bubble point density and molecular weight and density of the liquid portion of the mixture are also used in the determination.
US07674615B2	Mechanical cartridge with test strip fluid control features for use in a fluid analyte meter A structure for controlling fluid flow from a sample receiving pad into a lateral flow assay test strip, including: a lateral flow assay test strip; a sample pad abutting the lateral flow assay test strip; a pinch wall positioned to direct fluid flow from the sample pad to the lateral flow assay test strip; a top support structure positioned on top of the test strip; and a bottom support structure positioned underneath the test strip, wherein each of the top and bottom support structures comprise a plurality of separate spaced-apart support ribs positioned along the length of the test strip.
US07674612B2	Infectious, chimeric hepatitis C virus, methods of producing the same and methods of use thereof The present invention provides infectious recombinant Hepatitis C Viruses (HCV), and vectors, cells and animals comprising the same. The present invention provides methods of producing infectious recombinant HCV, and their use in identifying anti-HCV therapeutic agents, as well as sequences of HCV associated with HCV pathogenesis.
US07674610B2	Method and device for probing changes in a membrane by applying an in-plane electric field The present invention is directed to disposing a membrane, for example, a biological cell membrane including amphiphilic lipids and proteins, or a liquid crystal membrane, between two electrical conductive walls having a height that is at least as great as the thickness of the membrane and, in particular, approximates the membrane thickness or height. The conductive walls are disposed on an electrically insulative base and can be approximately parallel to each other and perpendicular to the base. Two electrically conductive pads extending from each of the conductive walls are fabricated on the base. An electric field is propagated between the conductive walls along the plane of the membrane. An optional third electrode can be fabricated in between the planes of the conductive walls. This third electrode does not extend above the plane of the base and is electrically isolated from the two conducting walls. This invention relates to probing structural changes of the membrane by applying an in-plane electric field, using electric current measurements, impedance gain phase analysis, raster scanning by atomic force microscopy, and observation with confocal, fluorescence or other microscopy, but not limited to these tools.
US07674583B2	Alterations in the copy number of the SULT1A1 gene Methods are described for determining sulfonator status of a patient and determining dosages of drugs based on copy number of the SULT1A1 gene.
US07674581B1	Autonomous genosensor apparatus An autonomous genosensor apparatus and methods for use are provided for the field detection and analysis of ambient chemical, biochemical, biologic, biogenetic, and radiologic materials under field conditions in fluid or gaseous environments, such as marine or aquatic environments or industrial processes. Autonomous genosensors provide integral, self contained units which automatically extract environmental samples, prepare those samples for analytical studies, analyze those samples using studies such as DNA or biomarker analysis, and store or transmit the data produced to a remote computer or computer network. Autonomous genosensors may be used as freestanding units, or may be networked and controlled through a remote computer network.
US07674576B2	Semen extender composition and methods for manufacturing and using A semen extender composition is provided. The semen extender composition includes a sperm cell protecting amount of phospholipid, an effective amount of surfactant to reduce ice crystal formation during freezing of the composition; a carbohydrate, and a biological buffer to provide a semen extender use solution having a pH of between about 6.9 and about 7.5, and wherein the use solution exhibits an osmolality of about 250 mOsM to about 350 mOsM. Methods for manufacturing and using a semen extender composition are provided.
US07674574B2	Method of arranging mask patterns A method of arranging mask patterns, which includes a first mask has a first mask pattern, a second mask has a second mask pattern. The distance between the first mask boundary and the first mask pattern boundary is different form the distance between the second mask boundary and the second mask pattern boundary.
US07674562B2	Angled-wedge chrome-face wall for intensity balance of alternating phase shift mask A method for forming a phase shift mask is presented. The method includes providing a substrate including a transparent material having first, second and third regions, the third region being disposed between the first and second regions. The method also includes forming a light reducing layer on a first major surface of the substrate. The light reducing layer is patterned to form a patterned light reducing layer having sidewalls defining openings to expose the first and second regions. The patterned light reducing layer is processed to transform the sidewalls of the patterned light reducing layer to angled sidewalls having an angle of less than 90° from a plane of the first major surface of the substrate. The angled sidewalls improve intensity balance of an image-formed by light-transmitted through the mask.
US07674551B2	State of charge indicator for a battery A state of charge indicator for a battery having a liquid electrolyte includes a viewing rod having an observation surface at a first end, a conical reflection surface at a second end, and a generally cylindrical outer surface intermediate the first end and the second end. The viewing rod includes a central longitudinal axis. The state of charge indicator also includes a ball cage coupled to the second end of the viewing rod through which the electrolyte can flow and at least one ball guide channel provided in the ball cage and arranged obliquely with respect to the central longitudinal axis. The ball guide channel includes an upper boundary surface adjacent the conical reflection surface. The upper boundary surface is smoothly connected to the conical reflection surface.
US07674543B2	Solid oxide fuel cell of multiple tubular electrodes The present invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell, which comprises: a plurality of tubular electrodes, reacting gases supplying means, and a preheat piping. The tubular electrodes are concentrically arranged while enabling the polarity of a surface of any one of the plural electrodes is the same as that of the corresponding surface of a neighbor electrode faced thereto; wherein each tubular electrode further comprises an anode layer, a cathode layer, and a solid electrolyte layer sandwiched between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The supplying reacting gases means is capable of supplying fuel and gas respectively to the anode and cathode of the tubular electrodes. The preheat piping, connected to the supplying reacting gases means, collects the heat generated from the combustion reaction of residual fuel and gas, which can be utilized to preheat the gases supplying reacting means.
US07674541B2	Hydrogen gas supply device and fuel cell apparatus The hydrogen gas supply device capable of detecting that the hydrogen gas storage volume of a tank has decreased to a predetermined value or less including a plurality of tanks each filled with a hydrogen storage alloy, an information obtaining device for obtaining information on the physical quantity of the plurality of tanks different from each other in hydrogen storage volume, and a signal outputting device for outputting information signal on the remaining amount of the hydrogen gas in the tanks by determining a hydrogen gas storage status of the plurality of tanks from information on the physical quantity, and detecting the decrease of the remaining amount of the hydrogen gas in all tanks in use to a predetermined value or less from the hydrogen gas storage status of the plurality of tanks.
US07674535B2	Magnetic transfer master disk, its manufacturing method and magnetic transfer method The present invention provides a magnetic transfer master disk comprising: a master substrate formed by a metal plate, on a surface of which a protruding and recessed pattern corresponding to transfer information is transferred by electroforming, the metal plate being composed of two or more electroforming layers that are different from each other in crystal orientation; and a magnetic layer formed on the protruding and recessed pattern of the master substrate in order to eliminate warpage and distortion of the master disk even if the close contact pressure is increased during transferring magnetic information such as format information to a magnetic disk used in a hard disk device and the like.
US07674520B2	PVD coated cutting tool The present invention describes a cutting tool with improved properties for metal machining having a substrate of cemented carbide and a hard and wear resistant coating on the surface of said substrate. The coating is deposited by Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD). The coating is composed of metal nitrides in combination with alumina (Al2O3). The coating is composed of a laminar multilayered structure. The insert is further treated to have different outer layers on the rake face and flank face respectively.
US07674512B2	Film-based cellular matrix The invention is directed towards a film-based polymeric cellular matrix, methods for making the polymeric cellular matrix, articles of manufacture incorporating the polymeric matrix and methods for making articles of manufacture. The polymeric cellular matrix is characterized as a plurality of generally identical cells (open-ended geometric prisms) arranged to form a repeating geometric form. The matrix is particularly suited for use as a core between two panels.
US07674507B2	Pyran-dioxane derivatives, and the use thereof in liquid-crystalline media The invention relates to pyran-dioxane derivatives and to the use thereof as component(s) in liquid-crystalline media. In addition, the present invention relates to liquid-crystal and electro-optical display elements which contain the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention.
US07674503B2	Oxime derivative, photopolymerizable composition, color filter, and process for producing the same There are provided a compound represented by the following formula (I), a photopolymerizable composition containing (A) a photopolymerization initiator represented by the formula (I) and (B) a radical polymerizable monomer, a color filter produced by using the photopolymerizable composition, and a process for producing the color filter:
US07674498B2	Porous ceramic filters with catalyst coatings Porous ceramic catalyst supports or filters to be provided with catalyst coatings via oxide washcoating processes are pre-coated with cross-linked polymer barrier layers to prevent washcoat nanoparticle intrusion into the microcracked and/or microporous surfaces of the ceramics, the barrier coatings being formed by thermally cross-linking hydrocarbon polymers that are vaporizable at moderate washcoat stabilization or catalyst activation temperatures and that preferentially block the micropore/microchannel pore volume of the article.
US07674475B2	Endoparasiticidal gel composition A homogenous, clear, veterinary gel composition which has a broad spectrum of efficacy against endoparasites over a prolonged period of time and which allows for higher concentrations of a mixture of parasiticidal agents in a single application. This composition is useful for treating and controlling endoparasiticidal infection and infestation in a homeothermic animal.
US07674473B2	Anti-microbial composition An anti-microbial composition comprising (i) a first compound having a high surface tension of from 20 to 35 mN/m, (ii) a second compound having a low surface tension of from 8 to 14 mN/m, (iii) a first anti-microbial agent and (iv) a polar solvent, wherein the composition acts substantially to prevent the formation of microbial colonies on or at a surface of the composition.
US07674470B2	Recombinant toxin fragments Antigenic compositions are provided comprising a single chain polypeptide comprising first and second domains, wherein said first domain is a clostridial neurotoxin light chain or a fragment or a variant thereof and is capable of cleaving one or more vesicle or plasma membrane associated proteins essential to exocytosis; and said second domain is a clostridial neurotoxin heavy chain HN portion or a fragment or a variant thereof, wherein said second domain is capable of (i) translocating the polypeptide into a cell or (ii) increasing the solubility of the polypeptide compared to the solubility of the first domain on its own or (iii) both translocating the polypeptide into a cell and increasing the solubility of the polypeptide compared to the solubility of the first domain on its own; and wherein the second domain lacks a functional C-terminal part of a clostridial neurotoxin heavy chain designated HC thereby rendering the polypeptide incapable of binding to cell surface receptors that are the natural cell surface receptors to which native clostridial neurotoxin binds. Antibodies that bind to the polypeptides, and compositions comprising these antibodies, are also provided, as are DNA vaccines comprising polynucleotides that encode these polypeptides.The antigenic and antibody compositions, and the DNA vaccine compositions, can be used in methods of immunising against, or treating, clostridial neurotoxin poisoning in a subject by administering to that subject a therapeutically effective amount of the composition.
US07674469B2	Feline influenza vaccine and method of use This invention is directed to a vaccine and a method for using the vaccine to protect a feline from influenza virus infection. The vaccine comprises one or more antigens from one or more H3, N8, H7 or N7-type influenza viruses.
US07674468B2	Treatment of cancer using HSV mutant Use as an anti-cancer agent of a mutant herpes simplex virus wherein the mutant virus comprises a modification in the γ34.5 gene in the long repeat region (RL) such that the γ34.5 gene is a non-functional, manufacture of medicaments and methods of testing cancer in mammals employing HSV mutant.
US07674466B2	Targeting and prolonging association of drugs to the luminal surface of the pulmonary vascular endothelial cells using antibodies that bind to ICAM-1 Methods for targeting and prolonging association of a selected drug to the luminal surface of pulmonary vascular endothelium of an animal are provided wherein a selected drug is administered to an animal in combination with a non-internalizable ICAM-1 antibody which binds to an antigen on the luminal surface of the pulmonary vasculature. This method is particularly useful in dissolution of fibrin clots or prevention of the intravascular coagulation in the pulmonary vasculature.
US07674465B1	Regulation of gene expression by the Bacillus anthracis ARP The invention provides a novel gene and protein regulating the expression of Bacillus anthracis Anthrolysin O toxin, pharmaceutical compositions and antibodies which may be utilized for human or veterinary applications or for agricultural applications, and methods of treatment using same.
US07674463B1	Method of inhibiting angiogenesis by administration of a corticotropin releasing factor receptor 2 agonist The present invention provides transgenic mice deficient in corticotropin releasing factor receptor 2 (CRFR2). Mice deficient for CRFR1 exhibit decreased anxiety-like behavior and a decreased stress response. In contrast, CRFR2 null mutant mice are hypersensitive to stress and display increased anxiety-like behavior. These mice are useful for the study of anxiety, depression, and the physiology of the HPA axis. CRFR2 null mutant mice also exhibit increased angiogenesis in all tissues examined. Thus, CRFR2 antagonists may be used to stimulate angiogenesis for the treatment of various conditions. In contrast, CRFR2 agonists may be used to inhibit angiogenesis. A combination of urocortin and bFGF was observed to stimulate rapid hair growth.
US07674462B2	Cripto blocking antibodies and uses thereof The invention provides Cripto blocking antibodies, or biologically functional fragments thereof, and uses thereof. Antibodies which bind Cripto and modulate Cripto signaling are provided. Antibodies which bind Cripto and block the interaction between Cripto and ALK4 are provided. Antibodies which bind Cripto and modulate tumor growth are also provided. Antibodies which bind Cripto, modulate signaling, and modulate tumor growth are also provided. Antibodies which bind Cripto, block the interaction between Cripto and ALK4 and modulate tumor growth are provided. The invention also provides methods of using these antibodies in therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications.
US07674459B2	Treatment of cancer with a novel anti-IL13 monoclonal antibody The present invention relates to the treatment of IL13 dependent neoplastic disorders comprising the administration of novel anti-IL13 antibodies, The invention also includes diagnosing such tumors or cancer using the antibodies of the present invention to detect overexpression of IL13 in the patient.
US07674439B2	Reactor distribution apparatus and quench zone mixing apparatus A quench zone mixing apparatus that occupies a low vertical height and has an improved mixing efficiency and fluid distribution across the catalyst surface includes a swirl chamber, a rough distribution network, and a distribution apparatus. In the swirl chamber, reactant fluid from a catalyst bed above is thoroughly mixed with a quench fluid by a swirling action. The mixed fluids exit the swirl chamber through an aperture to the rough distribution system where the fluids are radially distributed outward across the vessel to the distribution apparatus. The distribution apparatus includes a plate with a number of bubble caps and associated drip trays that multiply the liquid drip stream from the bubble caps to further symmetrically distribute the fluids across the catalyst surface. Alternatively, deflector baffles may be associated with the bubble caps to provide a wider and more uniform liquid distribution below the plate. The distribution apparatus can be used in the reaction vessel without the swirl chamber and rough distribution system, e.g., at the top of a vessel.
US07674425B2	Variable coalescer A coalescer has variable characteristics including variable diameter of individual fibers along their length such that an individual fiber has differing diameters at different points along its length, and including variable porosity.
US07674423B2	Process for producing three-dimensional model A process for producing a three-dimensional model is provided. The process includes (a) a layer formation step of forming a layer of a powder material having a refractive index n1 above a support, (b) a shape formation step of bonding the powder material layer into a predetermined shape by a binder that gives a refractive index n2, and (c) sequentially repeating the above steps. The absolute value of the difference between the refractive index n1 of the powder material and the refractive index n2 given by the binder is 0.1 or less, and the binder includes two or more types of binders selected from the group consisting of at least one type of colored binder, a white binder, and a colorless transparent binder.
US07674413B2	Process for producing cycloolefin resin composition A process for producing a cycloolefin resin composition comprising a cycloolefin resin and an additive by using a twin-screw extruder is provided, in which loss of the additive caused by volatilization through a vent during kneading is reduced and kneading of resin material with the additive can be sufficiently carried out. When the cycloolefin resin and the additive are kneaded by using a vented twin-screw extruder (10) to produce the cycloolefin resin composition containing the additive, an additive introduction opening (3) is disposed downstream of a vent (2) located nearest to a discharge opening (13) of the twin-screw extruder, and the additive is charged through the additive introduction opening located at a distance from the discharge opening of the twin-screw extruder in the range between longer than 10D and not longer than 30D.
US07674410B2	Method for manufacturing a thermal interface material A method for manufacturing a thermal interface material comprising the steps of: providing a carbon nanotube array comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes each having two opposite ends; forming a composite phase change material by filling clearances in the carbon nanotube array with a phase change material; forming a section with predetermined thickness by cutting the composite phase change material along a direction cross to an alignment direction of the carbon nanotubes; and heating up the section to a temperature higher than a phase change temperature of the phase change material and cooling down after the two opposite ends of the carbon nanotubes protruding out of the section.
US07674405B2	Zeolites with incorporated dipolar nonlinear optical molecules in uniform orientation and preparation thereof The present invention relates to a method for incorporating into zeolite pores dipolar nonlinear optical (DNLO) molecules in a uniform orientation and a DNLO-zeolite composite in which DNLO molecules are included in a uniform orientation into zeolite pores.
US07674403B2	Composition, an electrode transfer film including the same, a display panel, and a method of forming an electrode A composition for forming an electrode including a conductive composite of a first material coated with a metal that has a higher electrical conductivity, wherein the first material is at least one selected from the group consisting essentially of nickel, carbon, and copper.
US07674394B2	Plasma process for inductively coupling power through a gas distribution plate while adjusting plasma distribution A method of processing a workpiece in the chamber of a plasma reactor includes capacitively coupling plasma source power using a ceiling gas distribution plate as the electrode while inductively coupling plasma source power through the ceiling gas distribution plate, and flowing process gas through the gas distribution plate from a gas input to plural gas injection orifices, distributing the gas flow within the gas distribution plate through a succession of arcuate paths joined at respective junctions, dividing gas flow at each junction from a first respective one of said gas flow paths into a respective pair of said gas flow paths in opposite gas flow directions, and restricting the arcuate length of each of the arcuate paths to less than half-circles.
US07674393B2	Etching method and apparatus When a substrate is etched by using a processing gas including a first gas containing halogen and carbon and having a carbon number of two or less per molecule, while supplying the processing gas toward the substrate independently from a central and a peripheral portion of a gas supply unit, which face the central and the periphery part of the substrate respectively, the processing gas is supplied such that a gas flow rate is greater in the central portion than in the peripheral portion. When the substrate is etched by using a processing gas including a second gas containing halogen and carbon and having a carbon number of three or more per molecule, the processing gas is supplied such that a gas flow rate is greater in the peripheral portion than in the central portion.
US07674390B2	Zeolite—sol gel nano-composite low k dielectric A method for forming a sol gel-zeolite composite dielectric material is herein described. Zeolite particles may be dispersed in a sol creating a liquid sol-zeolite colloid. The liquid sol-zeolite colloid may be deposited on an underlying layer. The liquid sol-zeolite colloid may be formed into a wet gel-zeolite composite. All of the liquid may be extracted from the wet gel-zeolite composite to form an aerogel-zeolite composite. Then the wet gel-zeolite composite or the aerogel-zeolite composite may be calcined to freeze the structure of the composite material.
US07674380B2	Apparatus for treating sewage using a semi-batch process and associated method An apparatus for treating sewage using a semi-batch process is provided. The apparatus may include an aeration tank, a thickening tank, a dephosphorization tank, and first and second reactor basins. The first and second reactor basins may each include an opening portion formed by opening a side wall thereof so as to be connected with a lateral portion of the aeration tank and an aeration unit installed therein. The apparatus may also include a flow distribution pipe including a start pipe and a pair of flow pipes, a pair of stirrers each provided at a respective side of the auxiliary pipes in each of the pair of flow pipes, operating in turn to stir the dephosphorized sewage overflowing from the dephosphorization, and a decanter installed across the top of the side opposite to the opening portions of the first and second reactor basins.
US07674377B2	Filter apparatus A filter apparatus, including a dual-chambered, centrifugal and compressive filtration apparatus having a central annular filter element, rotating external radial fins extending from adjacent the filter element to adjacent an outer cannister wall and internal fins within the annular filter element. The disclosed filter element is a continuous resilient, cylindrical, helical filter coil including a regular sinusoidal shape defining loop-shaped filter pores between adjacent coils.
US07674376B1	Centrifuge with integral depth filter A centrifuge includes a rotor with one or more drive jet openings for rotating the rotor to separate particulate matter from a fluid. A filter element is disposed inside the rotor, and the filter element includes depth filter medium for removing from the fluid sticky contaminants having the same general density as the fluid, such as sludge or varnish compounds. The rotor has a split flow configuration in which a portion of the fluid is routed to the filter element and the rest of the fluid bypasses the filter element to maintain fluid pressure of the fluid discharged from the drive jet openings. In one form, the depth filter medium is impregnated with a chemical that changes a property of the fluid, like acidity. In another form, the depth filter material is contained in a capsule for easy disposal.
US07674374B2	Method for preparing acidic solutions of activated silica and polyvalent metal salt for water treatment A process is disclosed for the production of acidic solutions of activated silica for water treatment. Activated silica is formed during the process of acidifying a sodium silicate solution to below pH 4 with sulfuric acid. A polyvalent metal salt is then added to stabilize the acidified activated silica.
US07674367B2	Iron-containing crystalline aluminosilicate, hydrocracking catalyst comprising the aluminosilicate, and method of hydrocracking with the catalyst The present invention relates to an iron-containing crystalline aluminosilicate, a hydrocracking catalyst comprising the same and a process for hydrocracking utilizing the catalyst, and employing the catalyst in hydrocracking for heavy oil results in easy production of great quality kerosene and gas oil having low contents of sulfur and nitrogen as well as increased production thereof.
US07674365B2	Formulations useful as asphaltene dispersants in petroleum products A composition comprising: (i) a chelating aminocarboxylic acid-C8-C22 amine complex; (ii) a C15-C21 bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amide; and (iii) a C15-C44 imidazoline compound.
US07674364B2	Hydraulic fluid compositions and preparation thereof A hydraulic fluid composition having excellent seal compatibility is prepared from an isomerized base oil is provided. The composition comprising (i) 80 to 99.999 wt. % of a lubricating base oil having consecutive numbers of carbon atoms, less than 10 wt % naphthenic carbon by n-d-M, less than 0.10 wt. % olefins and less than 0.05 wt. % aromatics, a molecular weight of greater than 600 by ASTM D 2503-92 (Reapproved 2002), a wt % total molecules with cycloparaffinic functionality greater than 25 and a ratio of molecules with monocycloparaffinic functionality to molecules with multicycloparaffinic functionality greater than 10; and (ii) optionally from 0.001 to 6 wt % of a viscosity modifier; and (iii) 0-10 wt % of at least an additive package. When used in operations, the composition results in an average volume change in a rubber seal of less than 3% and an average hardness change in the rubber seal of less than 1 pts. when tested under ASTM D 471-06 (SRE NBR1 at 100° C., 168 hours).
US07674356B2	Paper machine belt A paper machine belt that includes at least one layer having parallel yarns. Additionally, a ratio of a volume of the parallel yarns in the at least one layer to a void volume in the at least layer is greater than 1:1.
US07674340B2	Stabilizer for organic solvents A stabilizer composition comprising a) an amine and b) a compound selected from aliphatic, non-cyclic monomeric polyunsaturated hydrocarbons and terpenes is useful for stabilizing an organic solvent against degradation.
US07674335B2	Method of producing high quality relaxed silicon germanium layers A method for minimizing particle generation during deposition of a graded Si1−xGex layer on a semiconductor material includes providing a substrate in an atmosphere including a Si precursor and a Ge precursor, wherein the Ge precursor has a decomposition temperature greater than germane, and depositing the graded Si1−xGex layer having a final Ge content of greater than about 0.15 and a particle density of less than about 0.3 particles/cm2 on the substrate.
US07674334B2	Artificial corundum crystal An artificial corundum crystal which can be put into practical use at low costs, and a process for producing the same. The artificial corundum crystal contains a seed crystal and has at least one crystal face selected from a {113} face, a {012} face, a {104} face, a {110} face, a {101} face, a {116} face, a {211} face, a {122} face, a {214} face, a {100} face, a {125} face, a {223} face, a {131} face, and a {312} face. The process for producing the artificial corundum crystal an artificial corundum crystal having a hexagonally dipyramidal includes forming with a seed crystal by a flux evaporation method of heating a sample containing a raw material and a flux to precipitate a crystal and grow the crystal by use of flux evaporation as a driving force.
US07674331B2	Dual function cement additive The use of silicate as a retarder enhancer at appropriate levels to enhance the retarding effect of retarders at high temperatures encountered downhole while accelerating the set of cement at lower temperatures encountered near to the surface.
US07674326B2	Fluorescent phase change inks Disclosed is a phase change ink containing a fluorescent colorant that upon exposure to activating energy fluoresces such that an image that was not visible prior to exposure to the activating energy becomes visible. Also disclosed are an ink jet system and a process for authenticating a color document using the disclosed phase change ink.
US07674324B2	Exposures system including chemical and particulate filters containing chemically modified carbon nanotube structures An exposure system for exposing a photoresist layer on a top surface of a wafer to light. The exposure system including: an environment chamber containing a light source, one or more focusing lenses, a mask holder, a slit and a wafer stage, the light source, all aligned to an optical axis, the wafer stage moveable in two different orthogonal directions orthogonal to the optical axis, the mask holder and the slit moveable in one of the two orthogonal directions; a filter in a sidewall of the environment chamber, the filter including: a filter housing containing chemically active carbon nanotubes, the chemically active carbon nanotubes comprising a chemically active layer formed on carbon nanotubes or comprising chemically reactive groups on sidewalls of the carbon nanotubes; and means for forcing air or inert gas first through the filter then into the environment chamber and then out of the environment chamber.
US07674321B2	Method for removing acid gases from pressurized natural gas that is contaminated with acid gas compounds and recovering the removed acid gases at an increased pressure level A process for the removal of sour gas from pressurized natural gas which is polluted by sulphur compounds and other sour gas compounds includes initially feeding natural gas into a sour gas absorption unit, in which the sulphur components and any other components are absorbed by a physically acting solution yielding a sour gas rich absorbent. The absorbant is heated and fed into a high-pressure flash unit, in which the desorbed sour-gas is separated yielding a sour gas poor absorbent. The desorbed sour gas is cooled and the vaporized absorbent is condensed out of the sour gas stream. The sour-gas poor absorbent from the high-pressure flash unit is freed from residual sour gas in a gas stripping unit by stripping gas. The absorbent obtained in the sour gas unit is cooled and recycled permitting the desorbed sour gas to be condensed by cooling water or cooling air.
US07674320B2	Preparing hydrogen for cryo-adsorber storage Hydrogen gas at a hydrogen refueling site is cooled below liquid nitrogen temperature (e.g., about 80K) for more efficient adsorption of hydrogen on hydrogen adsorbent particles in the fuel storage of a hydrogen powered vehicle. When compressed hydrogen gas is available it may be cooled with liquid nitrogen and then sub-cooled below about 70K by a Joule-Thompson expansion. When liquid hydrogen provides hydrogen gas it may be cooled below liquid nitrogen temperatures by mixing with liquid hydrogen or by heat exchange with liquid hydrogen.
US07674306B2	Multilayered long life filter using convoluted foam A filtration device is disclosed, wherein filtering layers are formed from foam and include convolutions formed in at least one surface thereof.
US07674294B2	End device for a vertebral implant An end device attached to an implant and methods of use. The end device comprises a base having a receiving area, an opening, and at least one gate that is selectively positionable between open and closed orientations. The implant is sized to fit through the opening and into the receiving area when the gate is in the open orientation. Once inserted, the gate is sized to extend across at least a section of the opening and prevent the implant from escaping.
US07674293B2	Crossbar spinal prosthesis having a modular design and related implantation methods Modular spinal prosthesis having one of both of adaptable and configurable components is provided. The modular spinal prosthesis described herein provides an artificial articular configuration to replace damaged, worn or otherwise removed spinal facet elements.
US07674289B2	Biological artificial ligament and method of making A prosthesis for implantation into a human body is made by a method that includes the steps of providing a natural animal ligament or tendon that has a substrate, crosslinking and fixing the substrate, minimizing the antigens from the substrate, tanning the substrate to improve its mechanical properties, and coupling an active layer to the substrate.
US07674285B2	Polyanhydride polymers and their uses in biomedical devices A biocompatible, bioerodable polyanhydride polymer having a Young's modulus between about 1.5 and 3 and a selected rate of surface degradation, and methods of forming and using the polymer, are disclosed. The polymer is formed of a polyester prepolymer having a preferred molecular weight of greater than 5 and less than 7.5 Kdaltons, and a selected number of anhydride linkages between 5 and about 30.
US07674273B2	Method for performing a surgical procedure and a cannula for use in performing the surgical procedure A method of performing a surgical procedure on a body includes providing a cannula having a tubular structure with first and second tubular portions defining first and second passages for receiving surgical instruments. The second tubular portion is inserted inside the body and the first tubular portion is inserted so that the first tubular portion extends from an exterior of the body to inside the body. The second tubular portion expands to increase the cross-sectional area of the second passage in the second tubular portion while the second tubular portion is inside the body. The cross-sectional area of the first passage in the first tubular portion is maintained. The first tubular portion has a first thickness and the second tubular portion has a second thickness different than the first thickness.
US07674271B2	Endoluminal gastric ring and method A ring or rings adapted for endoluminal placement within the stomach, other hollow organ or vessel, and a method for deploying the rings is described. The rings create a small pouch with a reinforced stoma in the stomach for the treatment and control of obesity. An endoluminal suturing device for deploying a circumferential line of interrupted mattress suture bites is inserted into the patient's stomach via the patient's mouth. The distal gastric ring is preloaded on the distal end of the suturing device and is incorporated with suture loops from the double-armed sutures contained within the device. The suturing device can have an expandable area at its distal end that can expand its diameter to between approximately 10 mm and 150 mm. The circumference of this expanded area has a suction opening that is used to draw in tissue when a vacuum is applied to the device. Flexible cannulas containing long flexible suture needles are positioned radially around the circumference of the suction opening. The long needles are adapted to be advanced through the drawn in tissue incorporating their attached suture material. The expandable area of the device is collapsed, and the device is withdrawn from the patient. With the distal ring anchoring the sutures beneath the incorporated tissue folds, a column of sutures exits the device's suction port as the device is withdrawn. A second, proximal ring is then incorporated with the sutures and may then be endoscopically lowered into the patient's stomach and positioned proximal to the distal ring. The sutures are endoscopically secured and cut, thereby fixing the two rings together with tissue incorporated between them.
US07674265B2	Minimally invasive instruments and methods for preparing vertebral endplates Instruments and methods for treating vertebral endplates are disclosed. The instrument includes one or more treatment members movable from a reduced profile position for insertion to the operative site to a deployed position for providing treatment to the vertebral endplates.
US07674250B2	Methods of delivering therapeutic agents Devices and methods of delivering therapeutic agents to tissue are provided, which provide reduced outflow of therapeutic agents from an injection site. The methods include delivering one or more clot-promoting substances, such as platelets, fibrin and/or thrombin, to the injection site to entrap the therapeutic agent in the injection site. Devices include devices that are suitable for use in the provided methods.
US07674246B2	Automatic injection and retraction syringe An automatic injection and retraction syringe having a medicine cartridge, an injection assembly, and a retraction assembly is provided. The retraction assembly is selectively securable to the injection assembly to house the medicine cartridge. The retraction assembly includes an end cap, a hypodermic needle, a retraction spring, and an upper seal. The retraction spring is maintained in a partially compressed condition between the needle hub and the end cap. The upper seal is urged against a sealing surface by the retraction spring in the partially compressed condition to form a hermetic seal. In some embodiments, the injection assembly includes an injection spring, a plunger engaged to the injection spring, and a safety element to prevent the plunger from escaping the injection assembly if the injection spring is released from the normally stressed condition before the assemblies are secured to one another.
US07674244B2	Devices, systems and methods for detecting increase fluid levels in tissue A system for injection of a fluid into a body includes: a source of a first fluid, a source of a second fluid; the first fluid being less toxic than the second fluid; at least one pressurizing system in operative connection with the source of the first fluid and with the source of the second fluid; at least one controller in operative connection with the pressurizing system; and at least a first sensor in communicative connection with the controller. The first sensor is adapted to transmit a signal of a detected change in fluid level in tissue indicative of extravasation to the controller. The controller is adapted to cause injection of the first fluid into the body to determine if extravasation of the first fluid occurs using the sensor in an administration phase before injection of the second fluid.
US07674243B2	Ophthalmic injection device using piezoelectric array An ophthalmic injection device has a dispensing chamber, a storage chamber, a piezoelectric array, a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber, a power source for providing power to the piezoelectric array, and a controller for controlling the power source. A dispensing chamber housing has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a dispensing chamber for receiving a quantity of a substance. The storage chamber is located near the dispensing chamber housing. The piezoelectric array is located between the storage chamber and the dispensing chamber housing. A housing at least partially encloses the dispensing chamber housing, the storage chamber, the piezoelectric array, the power source, and the controller. The piezoelectric array is activated to pump the substance from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber.
US07674240B2	Method and apparatus for controlled vessel occlusion A controlled volume inflation-deflation device to inflate a balloon to occlude a blood vessel by dialing a knob that locks at rotational positions to locate a plunger at equally spaced locations within a syringe of the inflation-deflation device. The inflation-deflation device includes a releasable latch to lock the proximal and distal housings together to hold the plunger forward for occlusion, and to separate and hold the proximal and distal housings to retract the plunger for perfusion. When the inflation-deflation device is returned to the latched position, the balloon is re-inflated to its previous occlusive diameter. Also, an extension tube made of a lower modulus outer material co-extruded over and miscible with a higher modulus inner material may be used. The balloon may have tapered ends and a cylindrical center portion so that it increases by more equal increments in outer diameter to incremental equal increases in inflation volume.
US07674235B2	Method for determining concentration; a dialyser A dialyzer having a hemo-dialyzer and/or a hemo-filter and an extra-corporal blood circulation with which a device for the adding of citrate to the blood is connected upstream and a device for the adding of a substitution solution containing ions to the blood is connected downstream of the hemo-dialyzer and/or of the hemo-filter. Ion concentration in the dialyzate downstream of the hemo-dialyzer and/or of the hemo-filter is detected with respect to the direction of flow of the dialyzate. The concentration of the ion, atom or molecule to be determined is reliably ascertained by preventing the complexing of the ion, atom or molecule, at least during the determination of the concentration, by the addition or withdrawal of a substance.
US07674229B2	Adaptive ultrasound delivery system A method and system for opening a blood-brain barrier are described. Ultrasonic radiation having a frequency below 500 kHz is directed through a skull to a target region and the frequency is adjusted such that wavefronts of the ultrasonic radiation remain essentially unchanged while passing through the skull.
US07674228B2	System and method for ECG-triggered retrospective color flow ultrasound imaging A method for producing an ECG-triggered retrospective color-flow ultrasound image comprises generating ultrasound, transmitting the ultrasound into a subject at a first location, wherein a first reference point of an ECG signal taken from the subject triggers the ultrasound transmission, receiving ultrasound reflected from the subject at the first location, transmitting the ultrasound into the subject at a second location, wherein a second reference point of an ECG signal taken from the subject triggers the ultrasound transmission receiving ultrasound reflected from the subject at the second location, processing the received ultrasound to form ultrasound color traces, and reconstructing the ultrasound color traces to form the ultrasound image.
US07674227B1	Illuminated display system An illuminated display system and method for prioritizing medical care administered to an injured user, such a soldier in battlefield settings. The illuminated display system may be applied to triage scenarios whereby illuminated signals visually provide the triage status of an injured user at a distance and in low-visibility settings. In particular, the illuminated display system includes a plurality of light emitters. Each light emitter from the plurality of light emitters provides a different predetermined wavelength of light than the other light emitters from the plurality of light emitters. In operation, each respective predetermined wavelength of light provides information relating to the degree of injury or other information associated with the user such that a desired light emitter is selected to display the desired wavelength and, ultimately, the desired information.
US07674217B2	Machine tool with spindle chuck replacing mechanism The present invention provides a machine tool with a spindle chuck replacing mechanism which is simply configured to enable a reduction in time for work replacement without the need to sense the rotation speed of a spindle chuck or the like. The machine tool includes a pre-rotation-transmission mechanism 7 transmits rotation of a spindle motor 4, via a path different from a chuck coupling portion 3a of a spindle 3, to a spindle chuck 5 placed in a processing position P1 and not coupled the chuck coupling portion 3a. The pre-rotation-transmission mechanism 7 makes a difference in rotation speed between the spindle chuck 5 and the spindle 3. The pre-rotation-transmission mechanism 7 has a speed difference absorbing mechanism 23 that absorbs the difference in rotation speed with the spindle chuck 5 coupled to the chuck coupling portion 3a.
US07674216B1	Fitness apparatus A fitness apparatus which allows for simultaneous strength training and core muscle building/strengthening, the apparatus incorporating an inflatable exercise ball. The apparatus includes a base which allows for selectively controlling the lateral movement and compressibility of the ball while performing various exercise routines. Also incorporated in the base are adjustable resistance training devices which allow for a variety of strength training, the resistance training devices allowing routines ranging from very light to sufficiently strenuous to challenge advanced users. The apparatus is collapsible and stowable, and may be used without the exercise ball to facilitate both strength/flexibility training, as well as aerobics.
US07674215B1	Exercise apparatus seat An exercise apparatus seat includes a seatbottom and a seatback each pivoted to a support frame at respective first and second stationary pivots, and coupled to each other at a third translational pivot.
US07674209B2	Exercise apparatus and method of operating the same An exercise apparatus and method of using exercise apparatuses. In some aspects and in some constructions, the invention may provide an exercise apparatus including a body housing a biasing member and having a first elongated member and a second elongated member movable relative to the first elongated member between a retracted position and an extended position, the biasing member biasing the second elongated member toward one of the retracted position and the extended position, a first pedal connected to the first elongated member, and a second pedal connected to the second elongated member, the first pedal being engageable by a first appendage of an operator and the second pedal being engageable by a second appendage of the operator for moving the second elongated member between the retracted position and the extended position.
US07674189B2	Golf club head A high forgiveness wood-type golf club head comprises a body and a face. The body defines an interior cavity and comprises a sole that forms a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown that forms a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt that forms a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. The face place is positioned at a front portion of the golf club head opposite a rear portion of the golf club head. The body defines an outer periphery having a generally triangular shape in plan.
US07674185B2	Training device for swing development A training device 100 for swing development. A pair of telescoping rods 10 and 12 extend from a spring, one from either end. Each rod is connected to a coupling device 24, 26 having a rotating bearing to which are connected a pair of handles 4, 6. The handles 4, 6 extend perpendicularly to the telescoping rods 10, 12 and in opposite directions to one another. Various attachments can be connected to the handles 4, 6 to be rotated therewith; for example, representations of the sporting equipment to be swung such as a golf club 30 or racquet, or attachments to cause resistance to handle rotation or providing a periodic noise to work on swing rhythm.
US07674184B2	Interactive water attraction and quest game A system of interactive game play is provided wherein the gaming is carried out within a pool, water park or water attraction. The game utilizes electronically identifiable objects, such as waterproof wands, cards, bands, tags and/or the like, to provide an interactive game play experience generally simulative of a computer adventure game. Play participants are challenged to work and cooperate with other play participants to find and use identified objects, clues or other information to solve various puzzles or problems that present encumbrances inhibiting participants' advancement in the game. Each play participant may possess a unique RFID wand, band, card or the like, that electronically identifies the play participant and enables the play system to award and track points or other rewards to successful play participants individually or working with other play participants as a team.
US07674180B2	Server based gaming system having system triggered loyalty award sequences A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. In one embodiment, the gaming system provides players with one or more loyalty incentives, such as one or more loyalty awards, utilizing one or more loyalty incentive award sequences. In one embodiment, the gaming system determines a loyalty award to provide to a player and then determines an appropriate loyalty award sequence to utilize to provide the player the determined loyalty award, wherein the loyalty award sequence is determined based on the individual gaming device that the player is currently playing.
US07674179B2	Gaming system and method for enabling a player to select progressive awards to try for and chances of winning progressive awards The present disclosure provides a gaming device, a gaming system and a method for operating a gaming device or gaming system with a plurality of progressive awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one of the progressive awards. The player's selection of which progressive award to play for is based, at least in part, on a relative probability of the player winning the selected progressive award compared to the relative probabilities of the player winning the non-selected progressive awards. After selecting which award to play for, the gaming device either provides the selected progressive award to the player or modifies the relative probability that the player will win the selected progressive award with one or more of any award selections remaining. Such a configuration enables the player to strategically select which award to play for and the order that the player will play for the awards.
US07674178B2	Gaming system and method for enabling a player to select progressive awards to try for and chances of winning progressive awards The present disclosure provides a gaming device, a gaming system and a method for operating a gaming device or gaming system with a plurality of progressive awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one of the progressive awards. The player's selection of which progressive award to play for is based, at least in part, on a relative probability of the player winning the selected progressive award compared to the relative probabilities of the player winning the non-selected progressive awards. After selecting which award to play for, the gaming device either provides the selected progressive award to the player or modifies the relative probability that the player will win the selected progressive award with one or more of any award selections remaining. Such a configuration enables the player to strategically select which award to play for and the order that the player will play for the awards.
US07674172B2	Gaming device having a wheel-based game A gaming device including at least one wagering station and a rotor. The rotor supports a series of symbols arranged about a center. The rotor also supports a series of landings arranged adjacent to the series of symbols. In operation, at least one ball travels along the rotor and eventually reaches a landing. One or more of the elements of the gaming device has a designated shape, construction or function to enable designated operations of a primary game, a secondary outcome determiner or a combination thereof.
US07674168B2	Gaming device having a randomly selected symbol elimination game A gaming device including a game which displays a plurality of symbols to a player. A probability of being selected by the processor is associated with each of the symbols. Additionally, at least two picks of the symbols are provided to the player where the number of picks is less than the number of symbols. In a game, the processor randomly picks the symbols for the number of picks provided to the player. The player receives any awards associated with the symbols picked by the processor. The processor then eliminates the picked symbols from further selection in the game. Eliminating the picked symbols increases the probabilities associated with the unpicked symbols for future picks based on the probabilities associated with the picked symbols. The player continues to pick selections until there are no picks remaining in the game.
US07674160B1	Gambrel The gambrel includes a center bar, a left hook bar and a right hook bar. The center bar is a flat metal plate with a pivot pin bore, a support line bore and a stop pin bore. The left and right hook bars are elongated flat bars each of which has a hook pivot bore a pivot end, and a hook end. A pivot bolt passes through the left hook bar, through the center bar and through the right hook bar. A pivot bolt nut holds the center bar between the left and right hook bars. A stop bolt passes through the stop pin bore between the hook pivot pin bore and the center bar lower end. The left hook bar rests on the stop bolt and the right hook bar rests on the stop bolt nut when the hook bars are in a carcass support position.
US07674156B2	Cleaning device for chemical mechanical polishing equipment A cleaning device for chemical-mechanical equipment, which includes: an irrotatable center shaft irrotatably coupled with a spindle which is rotated, the irrotatable center shaft including a first channel and a second channel formed in an interior of the irrotatable center shaft, cleaning liquid flowing into the first channel and compressed gas flowing into the second channel; and a nozzle block coupled with the spindle so as to revolve about the irrotatable center shaft above a polishing pad, the nozzle block mixing cleaning liquid supplied through the first channel with compressed gas supplied through the second channel so as to generate twin-fluid, and pressure-injecting the mixed twin-fluid on the polishing pad. Accordingly, cleaning liquid is pressurized so as to be rapidly injected on a polishing pad so that slurry particles and alien substances on the polishing pad are completely removed. Furthermore, wafer scratch can be prevented and the life of the polishing pad can also be increased.
US07674140B2	Modular service switching device The disclosure relates to a service switching device having a housing, having a front face side, a rear face side, having front and rear narrow sides connecting the front and rear face sides, having lateral broad sides, a fastening side, having at least one screwless terminal connection, which is fixed in position in a terminal connection area in the interior of the housing, for connecting connecting conductors by fixedly clamping them with a clamping spring, which acts as a compression spring on the connecting conductor ends, fixedly clamps them in a window-like cutout of a busbar and has a number of spring elements which corresponds to the number of connecting conductors to be connected. The housing wall has, in the region of the terminal connection, a number of connection openings for in each case one connecting conductor which corresponds to the number of connecting conductors to be connected, and each connection opening is associated with a spring element in such a way that each connecting conductor can be clamped with the other connecting conductors against a common clamping edge of only one window-like cutout.
US07674138B2	Connectivity hub with an integrated clip A connectivity hub enabling multiple peripheral devices to be connected with a computer includes an integrated clip adapted to grip cables and to grip an edge of a work surface, thereby reducing cable clutter and providing for a more efficient use of work surface space. The connectivity hub includes a curved portion manufactured from a flexible and springy material, enabling a user to apply pressure to increase the distance between two edges of the clip in order to insert cables into the clip or to slide the clip over an edge of a work surface, or both.
US07674135B2	Board-to-board electrical connector A board-to-board electrical connector comprising a male connector including a first insulating base, a plurality of male terminals, each said male terminal having a male contact and a male stator; a female connector including a second insulating base, a plurality of female terminals, each female terminal having a female lead and a female contact extending from the female lead in an bending direction for engagement with said male contact, and a female stator which engages with said male stator, the male contact is a closed ring in shape with at least a protrusion formed at its outside surface, which is restrained in the receiving cavity formed between the first convex of the female contact and the second convex set abreast to the first convex, and the outside surface of which contacts with the first convex and the second convex respectively, the first convex and the second convex being formed with the arm of the female contact bended forth and then back, the protrusion engaging with the first convex or the second convex in a locking manner. The electrical connector disclosed is small in size and the connection of the male terminal and female terminal is reliable.
US07674134B2	Shielded connector In a connector including a conductive contact, an insulating housing holding the contact, and a conductive shell covering the housing, the housing includes a protruding portion of a flat-plate shape having first and second principal surfaces faced to each other. The contact includes a first contacting portion disposed on the first principal surface of the protruding portion and a second contacting portion extending from the first contacting portion to the second principal surface of the protruding portion. The shell includes a shell contacting portion disposed on the second principal surface of the protruding portion. The second contacting portion and the shell contacting portion have confronting end faces faced to each other.
US07674125B2	Socket connector having contact terminals with reliable and durable interconnection with pin legs of a CPU An electrical connector for electrically connecting a pin leg of a CPU with a trace of a PCB includes an insulative housing (3) and a contact (1). The contact includes a base (10) and a pair of arm sections (20) oppositely extending from lateral sides of the base for engagement with the pin leg. The base has a body section (12) for being secured in the insulative housing and a soldering section (14) for being soldered onto the PCB. Each arm section forms a heave (24) to interfere with the insulative housing because of deformation of the arm sections.
US07674124B2	Contact pin assembly for a high voltage electrical connection There is disclosed a contact pin assembly for a high voltage electrical connection, the contact pin assembly comprising: an electrically-conductive outer member which is supportable from a support member, the outer member having a bore extending therethrough, the bore defining a smooth inner face of the outer member and being divergent towards opposite ends of the outer member; a contact pin, ends of which are arranged to be connected directly or indirectly to cables, the contact pin extending through the bore and having a profiled portion which defines a smooth outer face of the contact pin and which is divergent towards opposite ends of the contact pin, the contact pin being concentric with the bore; an electrically-conductive layer provided adjacent the inner face, the electrically-conductive layer being in electrical communication with the outer member and conforming with the profile of the inner face; an annular space between the profiled portion and the electrically-conductive layer; electrical insulation surrounding the pin to provide a seal around the pin and filling the annular space; and sealing between the insulation and the ends of the outer member. There is also disclosed a method of manufacturing such a contact pin assembly.
US07674116B2	Cable connector An exemplary cable connector includes a housing, a terminal module including a first terminal and a second terminal, a printed circuit board fixed in the housing, and a cable including a first core and a second core. The terminal module is detachably assembled in a first end of the housing, and the first and second terminals are contacting the printed circuit board. The cable is fixed in a second end of the housing, and the first and the second cores of the cable are welded to the printed circuit board. The first and second terminals are electrically communicating with the first and second cores via the printed circuit board.
US07674113B2	Miniature electrical ball and tube socket assembly with self-capturing multiple-contact-point coupling A socket assembly for connecting an array of bulbous terminals such as balls wherein the female element is a miniature tube that has resilient prongs that grip the corresponding terminals with varying force during insertion and deletion. The tube is of resilient conductive material that has been sliced or helically partitioned into opposing prongs forming slots of a width that increases with axial distance from the end of the tube so as to allow the prongs of the connector to grip around the ball-like bulbous terminal and mechanically retain the terminal within the connector. The tubular element of the connector may be made by forming prongs in one or both ends of a tube by cuts of a width that increases with distance from the end of the tube.
US07674105B2	Multiple article injection molding system Principal components of injection molding apparatus include a U-frame, a carrier plate remotely affixable to the U-frame, preferably two cavity blocks remotely affixable to the carrier plate, a corresponding pair of core blocks, and a hot runner assembly remotely affixable to rear faces of the core blocks. These components are placed in a hydraulic press. In a molding operation, the U-frame, carrier plate and cavity blocks move as a unit relative to the hot runner assembly and the core blocks affixed thereto. To quickly change out one or both block pairs, a subassembly comprising the carrier plate and all core and cavity blocks is remotely released from the U-frame and the hot runner assembly and is removed as a unit. Face clamps in the front face of the carrier plate, the rear face of the cavity blocks, the rear face of the core blocks and the front face of the cavity blocks speed the changeout process and obviate potential damage to the molding geometry. A hot runner nozzle cap seat in each core block has a rear-facing bevel which receives a beveled hot runner nozzle cap tip.
US07674089B2	Device and method for guiding at least two flow media A device which is used to guide at least two flow media having different pressures with a shaft or similar force-transmitting element, and a pressure insulating element such as a housing surrounding the shaft or similar. Areas arranged next to each other in the direction of the axis are determined between the force-transmitting element and the pressure-insulating element by sealing elements; at least one of the preferably magnetofluidic sealing elements is leakage-free, and two areas for fluids (A, B) having different pressures flank an area for an auxiliary liquid (H), whereby said area is subdivided by a device into two partial areas for two different pressure areas. A conveying medium is allocated to the area at high pressure and ambient air is allocated to the area at low pressure. The auxiliary liquid (H) is a carrier oil of the magnetofluid, optionally a silicon oil, allocated to the sealing element.
US07674079B2	Method and apparatus for machining work pieces A method and apparatus are provided to machine a curved surface such as an inner or outer peripheral surface of a pipe. The pipe is held stationary during machining and a rotatable spindle of a machine head moves along multiple orthogonal axes to align the rotational axis of the spindle with the longitudinal pipe axis. Preferably, the pipe axis is located by using a touch probe to engage the curved surface at multiple spots and the calculating the location of the pipe axis. The cutting tool, which is preferably a cutting tool insert, is rotated by the spindle to machine the curved surface.
US07674071B2	Method of beach renourishment using sand-entrapping wattles A method of using beach wattles formed of straw or like material to replenish and renourish a beach area or to create or replace sand dunes removed by storm erosion or the like, the method comprising the steps of placing wattles to entrap sand to build up a replenished mound, then positioning additional wattles on top of the replenished mound to create a higher mound, and repeating these steps as necessary until a mound or dune of desired bulk and height is created. The wattles entrap blowing or deposited sand within the interstices of the fibrous filler material to define an anchor member. The wattles can be placed end-to-end, arranged in patterns, layered or stacked in pyramidal manner.
US07674066B2	Tactile tile product for the visually impaired, method of manufacture and methods of conducting business therewith The present invention provides a tactile tile comprising hemispherical outward protruding domes on an upper surface for pedestrian traffic, and a plurality of longitudinal and transverse members integral with each other and integral with a bottom side of the tile opposite the upper surface forming a honeycomb pattern.
US07674060B2	Window cleaning device for out of reach windows A device for cleaning an out of reach window of a structure, which window might be otherwise difficult to reach without utilizing a ladder, wherein the apparatus comprises: a) a receptacle for holding a spray bottle containing window cleaning fluid; b) an armature to which can be attached a cable enabling the user to pull the cable thereby compressing the handle of the spray bottle and spraying cleaning fluid onto the window; c) a device for holding paper towels, fabric or other material for cleaning and drying the window; d) a receptacle for receiving a fixed or extending pole, enabling the user to extend the device above his head and clean windows which are otherwise out of reach.
US07674052B2	Object detection apparatus An improved object detection apparatus using an interface with which user can set an object detection area intuitively with simple operation. Apparatus includes imaging module imaging and outputting an imaged picture, three-dimensional position detection module detecting a three-dimensional position and outputting detected position information, input module allowing user to input data for setting a detection area and processing module conversion-processing and outputting the picture. Using detection area setting data inputted by user, detection area in the three-dimensional space is decided and whether the three-dimensional position detected by the position detection module exists inside or outside the detection area is judged. Picture outputted by the imaging module is subjected to conversion processing based on judgment result and detection area is clearly indicated in the picture.
US07674051B2	Mirror angle adjustment mechanism A mirror adjustment mechanism including a first reflection mirror rotatable around a rotation shaft, and a second reflection mirror rotatably provided on the first reflection mirror. One of the ends of the rotation shaft of the first mirror is allowed to move in the direction of the surface of the first mirror. By this movement, it is possible to adjust the direction of the reflecting light on the second mirror without substantially affecting the direction of the reflecting light on the first mirror. For example, the present invention can be applied to the adjustment of a sub-mirror rotatably mounted on a main mirror of a single-lens reflex camera.
US07674050B2	Lens barrel and camera incorporating the same lens barrel A lens barrel including an image capturing optical system, to be extended for image capturing and to be retracted for carrying, including: a first lens unit for capturing an image of a subject; a light-amount control member to control an amount of light which comes from the subject and passes through the image capturing optical system; and second lens unit including at least two lens units which sandwich the light-amount control member on the optical axis; wherein when the lens barrel is extended for image capturing, the first lens unit and the second lens unit exist on the optical axis, while the light amount control member is sandwiched between the two lens units of the second lens unit on the optical axis, and when the lens barrel is retracted, the second lens unit is shifted to the position out of the optical axis.
US07674044B2	Sealing device In a sealing device attached to a housing and slidably brought into close contact with a mating member, the sealing device having a mounting ring fixed to the housing in accordance with metal fitting and a rubber-like elastic body, and having a side lip slidably brought into close contact with an end face portion of the mating member and provided in the rubber-like elastic body, there is provided the sealing device which inhibits a metal fitting portion from being deteriorated due to a rust generation and inhibit inhibiting the side lip from slidably wearing. For this purpose, a flange portion is provided in the mounting ring toward an outer side in a diametrical direction, and an end face portion is covered by attaching an end face seal portion constituted by a rubber-like elastic body brought into close contact with the end face portion of the housing to the flange portion.
US07674043B2	Hydrodynamic bearing rotary device An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrodynamic bearing type rotary device which can improve rotation performance, suppress a friction torque, and reduce power consumption of motor, and a recording and reproducing apparatus including the same. A shaft having a flange on one end and a hub on the other end is provided with a bearing of a sleeve so as to be rotatable. The sleeve includes a communication hole. A third gap between the hub and the sleeve end surface is a flow path, and is connected to the communication hole. Provided that a first gap between a thrust plate 4 and the flange 3 is S1, a second gap between the flange 3 and a lower end surface of the sleeve 1 is S2, and a third gap between the upper end surface of the sleeve 1 and the hub 7 is S3, widths of the gaps satisfy the relational expression, S3>(S1+S2).
US07674041B2	Packaging device and method of using the same A packaging device generally includes a flexible inner container, a flexible outer container, and a one-way valve in fluid communication with the inner container. Articles to be packaged are contained within the inner container, and the inner container is positioned within the outer container. When the containers are closed and pressure is applied to the outer container, ambient fluid trapped within the outer container transfers the pressure to the inner container, thereby urging fluid flow from the inner container, through the one-way valve, and out of the packaging device.
US07674034B2	Food mixing machine and agitator therefor A food mixing machine (10) has a rotatable shaft (18) which is attached to the shaft (21) of an agitator (20). The shaft (21) carries a ring (24) and a disk (23), and the ring (24) carries a cloverleaf-shaped chip (25). The chip (25) has opposed, generally flat lobes (27) with the opposed lobes (29) positioned between the lobes (27). The lobes (29) are inclined relative to the lobes (27). Cutout areas (31) are formed between the lobes (27, 29), and as the agitator (20) is being rotated by the shaft (18), a leading edge (32) on the lobes (27, 29) at the cutout areas (31) contacts the food being mixed. The leading edges (32) have a larger radius of curvature than the trailing edges (33) on each lobe (27, 29).
US07674029B2	Light guide device and light guide plate using the same A light guide device and a light guide plate using the same are provided. The light guide device has a first surface, a second surface, and a bottom surface. The first surface, the second surface, and the bottom surface define the internal part of the light guide device. The bottom surface has a cavity. When a light source in the cavity generates light, the light from the internal part of the light guide device is emitted via the first surface.
US07674015B2	LED projector light module A LED projector light module comprising a main body, a LED unit, a heat-radiating unit, a voltage conversion unit and a base is disclosed. The main body is made of metallic material with good thermal conductivity (e.g. copper) and contains a space for accommodating the LED unit. The LED unit and the voltage conversion unit are electrically connected. The voltage conversion unit is configured inside the base. The base is connectable to the main body. The bottom surface of base is disposed with an electrically conductive pin that matches the projector socket. The electrically conductive pin is electrically connected to the voltage conversion unit at one end. The invention is characterized in which the heat-radiating unit is arranged at the outer rim of main body and the heat generated by the LED unit can be effectively transferred to the heat-radiating unit through the main body and then rapidly dissipate, which enhances the efficiency of heat dissipation, thereby allowing the use of higher wattage LED to enhance luminance.
US07674004B2	Planar light source device Cold cathode fluorescent tubes of the first group are aligned widthwise in one side of an enclosure which is divided into two areas at a centerline running widthwise. Cold cathode fluorescent tubes of the second group are aligned widthwise in the other side of the enclosure. All of the cold cathode fluorescent tubes are symmetrically-placed with respect to the centerline running widthwise. The cold cathode fluorescent tubes positioned outside widthwise are inclined at θ2 so that the distance between each of the tubes and the aperture plane gradually decreases lengthwise from an edge toward the center of the enclosure. The cold cathode fluorescent tubes positioned inside widthwise are inclined at θ1 so that the distance between each of the tubes and the aperture plane gradually decreases lengthwise from an edge toward the center of the enclosure. The inclined angle θ1 is made greater than the inclined angle θ2.
US07673997B2	Control panel assembly for laundry machine The present invention relates to a control panel assembly in which a light emitted from a single lamp is prevented from being dispersed nearby. A control panel assembly for a laundry machine, the control panel assembly includes a lamp supporter in which a plurality of lamps are installed to display functions selected by a user; a deco formed corresponding to the plurality of the lamps, the deco including a plurality of light-emitting holes through which a light emitted from each of the lamps passes; a light window including a light dispersion preventing part provided between the lamp supporter and the deco to prevent the light emitted from each of the lamps from being emitted through the other light-emitting holes except a single light-emitting hole corresponding each of the lamps.
US07673995B2	System and method for projector alignment A system for supporting a projector on a support structure relative to a projection surface includes a plurality of base members connectable with the support structure and having a position adjustable relative to the projection surface. The system also includes a base member calibration system for calibrating the base members to a predetermined position relative to the projection surface. The system also includes a plurality of foot members for supporting the projector. Each foot member has a position adjustable relative to the projector. The system further includes a projector calibration system for calibrating the projector to a predetermined position relative to the foot members. The projector calibrated to the predetermined position relative to the foot members is calibrated to the predetermined position relative to the projection surface when the foot members rest on the base members.
US07673979B2	Ink-jet printing device including a microwave heating device A device and a method for improving the quality of prints using a printer with at least one ink-jet printing device for colored printing of a printing material, such as a continuous roll feed material, said printing device including a heating device that applies microwaves to the printing material in order to dry a print applied to the printing material.
US07673975B2	Ink jet recording head having piezoelectric element and electrode patterned with same shape and without pattern shift therebetween An ink jet recording head comprising: a nozzle orifice for jetting ink; an ink chamber communicating with the nozzle; a diaphragm for pressurizing ink in the ink chamber; a piezoelectric thin film on the diaphragm; and an electrode for the piezoelectric thin film wherein the piezoelectric thin film and the electrode are patterned to the same shape.
US07673965B2	Apparatus and methods for full-width wide format inkjet printing Apparatus and methods are provided for wide format inkjet printing using conventional piezoelectric inkjet print heads that each print at a native resolution. A plurality of inkjet print heads are disposed in a print head array to print an image on the substrate at the native resolution across an entire width of the substrate without scanning across the width of the substrate. The print head array may be shifted in a direction parallel to the width of the substrate, and the print head array may be used to print images on the substrate in multiple passes to form a composite image having a resolution equal to a multiple of the native resolution. Alternatively, a plurality of print head arrays may be provided, with adjacent print head arrays spaced apart to provide a composite print resolution equal to a multiple of the native resolution.
US07673956B2	Print head inspection method, print head inspection apparatus, and printer When an actually measured voltage Vsu detected by a voltmeter 58 is within an inspection permissible range, a print head inspection apparatus 50 performs an inspection as whether or not ink has been normally ejected, on the basis of a changes in voltage that occur in an inspection area 52 as a result of ejected ink droplets. On the one hand, when the actually measured voltage Vsu is less than the inspection range, the apparatus increases a relative distance between a nozzle plate 27 and the inspection area 52 by separating the capping member 41 from the print head 24, by then bringing the capping member 41 and the print head 24 into contact, and after a suction pump 45 performs a separated-suction process, by then gradually separating the capping member 41 from the print head 24 until the actually measured voltage Vsu is within the inspection permissible range. Thus, a nozzle inspection as to whether or not the print recording liquid has been normally ejected can be carried out with a stable degree of accuracy.
US07673945B1	Safety harness This invention relates to a harness for securing a person to a supporting structure. The harness includes a pair of straps each having a first and second end, a back portion, a front portion, and a chest portion. The first end is looped over the front portion of each strap and attached to the front portion to form a first loop. The first loop is attached near each second end of both straps. A coupler is near the second end and spaced from where the coupler is attached to the straps. The coupler is separable and may be separated to allow said straps to be separated at the chest portion. The harness goes over both shoulders of a toddler, behind the back and the coupler fastens across the toddler's chest. This prevents a toddler from standing up when wearing the harness.
US07673941B2	Delayed gas spring chair A gas spring adapted for automatically re-adjusting to a predetermined position, the gas spring incorporating a delay mechanism so that the automatic re-adjustment is delayed by a predetermined amount of time, and articles incorporating such a delay gas spring, such as a height adjustable chair. In one embodiment, the delay mechanism comprises a delay valve.
US07673939B2	Seat back structure Structure of seat back is provided, which comprises: a seat back frame; and an upholstery cover assembly including a forward upholster cover element and a backward upholstery cover element. Those two upholstery cover elements cover respective forward and backward sides of the seat back frame, with an upper region thereof secured on top portion of the seat back frame by a headrest stay holder element. Outer peripheral ends of those two upholstery cover elements are engaged together by an engagement element, so that substantially a whole of the seat back frame is covered with the upholstery cover assembly, thus forming a seat back.
US07673938B2	Vehicle seat A vehicle seat includes a seat body having a seat back, a pair of left and right legs, a headrest coupled to the seat back at above the seat back through the pair of legs, load detecting means provided on the seat back and having a movable part that displaces in a predetermined direction upon undergoing a load from the front of the seat back; a first interacting member mechanically coupled to one leg of the pair and to the movable part of the load detecting means, to move one leg of the pair in conjunction with a displacement of the movable part caused upon undergoing the load, thereby displacing the headrest frontward, and a second interacting member mechanically coupled to the other leg of the pair and to the first interacting member, to move the other leg of the pair in conjunction with a movement of the first interacting member caused upon moving the one leg of the pair, thereby displacing the headrest frontward.
US07673930B2	RT reinforcer An improved structural reinforcer is provided, some embodiments comprising expansible material disposed on a carrier, the carrier having a plurality of chambers arranged longitudinally, with locking slots and shutoffs that lock a portion of the expansible material to the carrier, and a channel that permits the flow of liquids within a structural member in which the structural reinforcer is disposed.
US07673927B2	Vehicle with horizontally-pivotable tail gate In a motor vehicle having a tail gate (10) affixed to a lateral, rear pillar of the vehicle structure by means of at least one hinge so as to be pivotable about a substantially vertical axis (A-A), a hinge part that swings out together with the tail gate is located in an area of a lateral tail light (18) of the vehicle when the tail gate (10) is closed.
US07673922B1	Step device and method of use A step device and method for stepping on or off a tailgate without structurally altering the tailgate. In exemplary embodiment, the step device includes a tailgate step frame and a step assembly pivotally coupled to the tailgate step frame. The tailgate step frame includes at least one frame element in contact with the tailgate and a plurality of strap mounting assemblies for releasably coupling the step device to the tailgate. Each strap mounting assembly compressively fits on the tailgate thereby anchoring the step device to the tailgate. In one aspect, each strap mounting assembly further includes a strap element coupled to the at least one frame element and configured to conform to the predetermined shape of the tailgate. One strap mounting assembly may be interchanged for another of either different shape or dimensions to accommodate a desired compressive fit on any tailgate.
US07673917B2	Variable diameter lifting tongs Pipe lifting tongs are utilized for lifting cylindrical sections of pipe, where the pipe sections may have different diameters but the jaw assemblies of the lifting tongs do not need to be changed out. The lifting tongs comprise first and second jaw members, where each jaw member may match the other. The jaw members comprise interiorally facing arcuate gripping members. The jaw members are pivotally connected together with a central fastener. Each jaw member comprises a mounting member rigidly joined to its respective gripping member. The mounting member may comprise a pair of parallel plate members, where a spaced defined between the parallel plate members. Each plate member comprises a plurality of apertures, including both circular and slotted apertures. When the first and second opposing jaw members are pivotally connected together, the parallel plate members may be sandwiched together, such that many of the apertures in the parallel plate members are aligned. The lifting tongs may be adjusted to fit different pipe diameters by changing the apertures which are utilized.
US07673909B2	Dual-adhesive label for applying to an article, particularly an item of cosmetic product packaging A label intended to be applied to an article, and in particular to an item of cosmetic product packaging. The label includes a substrate having a first face which is covered, at least in part, by a first printing. A second face of the substrate is intended to be adhesive-bonded to the article. At least one first zone of the second face is covered by a first adhesive layer intended to hold the label in place on the article permanently. At least one second zone of the second face is covered by a second adhesive layer, different from the first one, with the second adhesive layer being such that the second zone is able to be unstuck from the article. The substrate also includes a second printing arranged so that, when the article is not transparent, the second printing is visible only when the second zone is unstuck from the article. In an alternate arrangement, the same adhesive can be used in the different zones of the second face, and the second printing is provided over the adhesive in the second zone, such that the second printing weakens or diminishes the adhesive strength of the adhesive to allow the second zone to be unstuck or peeled from the article to view the second printing.
US07673904B2	Device for reinforcing vehicle body of vehicle A vehicle body reinforcement device comprises an elongated shape with its middle portion comprising a hydraulic damper that produces a damping force against longitudinal deformation. Two vehicle body reinforcement devices may be mounted in a longitudinal manner to a vehicle body frame with a lateral space being defined between the two devices. Both ends of each of the vehicle body reinforcement devices can be removably attached from outside of the vehicle to positions that are exposed outside of the passenger compartment and below the vehicle body.
US07673901B2	Airbag device An airbag has a front panel positioned on an occupant side when inflated, and a rear panel of substantially the same shape as the front panel positioned on an opposite side to the occupant. Furthermore, an inflation restricting section, which restricts the inflated shape of the airbag, is formed by drawing together and fixing a portion of the front panel. When the airbag is inflated, the occupant side of the airbag is pulled inwards, thereby forming a cavity on the occupant side.
US07673898B2	Device for mounting a module carrier on the steering wheel of a motor vehicle A device is provided for mounting a module carrier on a rotatable steering wheel of a motor vehicle in such a manner that the angular position of the module carrier remains constant during a rotation of the steering wheel, with a first toothed ring connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the module carrier, a lever, which is mounted on the steering wheel via a bearing section in a manner such that it can pivot to and fro between two positions, a first toothed wheel, which is mounted rotatably on a first arm of the lever and meshes with the first toothed ring in a first position of the lever, and elastic means for pressing the first toothed wheel elastically against the first toothed ring so that rotation of the steering wheel in one direction causes a rotation of the module carrier in the opposite direction. For actuating the lever, the lever has a second arm which is connected via the bearing section to the first arm of the lever.
US07673893B2	Spring-based mechanism for saving labor of a bicycle rider A spring-based mechanism for saving labor of a bicycle rider is disclosed and in one embodiment includes an axle operatively connected to a chain wheel and a first set of bearings via a gear assembly; a housing for mounting a shaft therein wherein the first set of bearings is provided at one end of the shaft; a second set of bearings provided at the other end of the shaft; a spring in the housing and having one end attached to one end of the shaft and the other end attached to the other end of the housing; and a clutch provided externally of the other end of the housing, the clutch being operatively connected to the second set of bearings and including a lock lever. The mechanism can store elastic force by counterclockwise pedaling and release the stored energy by disengaging a clutch from the mechanism when riding uphill.
US07673892B2	Thixomold hinge assembly A hinge assembly is provided for moving a step on a motor vehicle between a stowed position and a deployed position. A rail bracket is fixedly secured to the vehicle and includes inner and outer bushings insert molded therein. A step bracket includes inner and outer bushings insert molded therein. The step is fixedly secured to the step bracket. An inner arm includes upper and lower pivot shafts insert molded therein. The upper and lower pivot shafts protrude from the inner arm and are pivotally disposed in the inner bushings of the rail and step brackets, respectively. An outer arm includes upper and lower pivot shafts insert molded therein. The upper and lower pivot shafts protrude from the outer arm and are pivotally disposed in the outer bushings of the rail and step brackets, respectively.
US07673886B2	Shopping cart A shopping cart has a wheeled base, a rear frame projecting upwardly from the rear end of the base with a handle at its upper end, a basket having a rear end secured to the frame and projecting forwardly from the frame at spacing above the base, and a fixed child seat secured to the rear frame. The basket is closed by a pivoted rear gate at its rear end. Two or more carts can be nested together by pushing the front wall of the basket of a first cart through the rear frame beneath the fixed child seat of a second cart, simultaneously pivoting the rear gate upwardly to allow the basket of the first cart to enter the basket of the second cart. The side walls are inclined upwardly from the child seat to the front end of the basket.
US07673884B2	Skating sports device with a detachably mounted exchangeable blade The invention relates to a skating sports device, in particular skating boot, comprising an exchangeable blade holder (14), connected to a boot by means of sole and heel plates (4 and 5). An exchangeable blade (1) may be clipped in the exchangeable blade holder (14), which is held under tension in the front and rear region by locking clip buttons (2) which may be operated without tools. A torsion duplex cross (3), formed by torsion and flexion bars (3a and 3b) absorbs the torsion and flexional forces occurring during skating and neutralizes the same.
US07673882B2	Collet holder for a multi-jaw chuck A collet holder for insertion into a multi-jaw chuck. The collet holder includes a multi-faceted body having a smooth bore extending therethrough for housing a standard collet and a cap nut threadably secured to the body.
US07673881B2	Target game There is provided a target game adapted to receive tokens into apertures having associated scores. The target game includes a horizontal playing surface having a plurality of apertures, and a vertical playing surface disposed at a back edge of and atop the horizontal playing surface. The vertical playing surface includes a plurality of apertures.
US07673876B1	Velocity matching calibration method for multiple independently driven sheet transport devices Disclosed are method embodiments that incorporate calibration and printing operations to be used with a printing device. The printing device contains a sheet transport path with multiple adjacent sheet transport devices, each having at least one independently controlled drive roller. Each preceding sheet transport device feeds a sheet to a following sheet transport device along the path in succession. Two or more adjacent sheet transport devices are positioned to simultaneously engage the sheet as it is being transported along the path. The calibration operation is used to determine the particular drive roller angular velocity that should be used by each sheet transport device to compensate for drive roller contention during the printing operation and, thereby to ensure that the linear velocity of the sheet essentially remains constant as it is transported across each adjacent transport throughout the printing operation.
US07673873B2	Offset print stacking tray with anti-stubbing feature A tray for receiving printed media from a printer, the tray including a print well, a ramp and at least two side walls. There is at least one support member extending from the tray adapted to engage the printer and position the tray such that the print well is laterally offset from the exit slot of the printer and prints exiting from the printer overhang one of the side walls of the tray. A ledge feature projects from the side wall that exiting prints overhang, the ledge feature configured to bias movement of the printed media exiting the printer and in contact the ledge feature to fall into the print well.
US07673870B2	Image forming apparatus provided with feeding roller having play in rotating direction A feeding roller is configured to be driven to rotate both in a forward direction for conveying the recording medium to an image forming position along a conveying path and in a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction. A conveying roller is configured to driven to rotate both in a forward direction for allowing passage of the recording medium conveyed by the feeding roller and in a reverse direction for preventing the passage of the recording medium. A transmitting unit is capable of transmitting a rotational driving force to the feeding roller and the conveying roller, in such a manner that either one of the feeding roller and the conveying roller rotates in the forward direction and that the other one of the feeding roller and the conveying roller rotates in the reverse direction. The feeding roller has a predetermined play in a rotational direction.
US07673865B2	Presentation instrument distribution systems and methods Systems and methods for preparing presentation instruments for distribution. Some of the methods include reading a code from a distribution stock, accessing a database and determining a presentation instrument to be associated with the distribution stock, selecting the presentation instrument, and associating the presentation instrument with the distribution stock. The various systems include hardware and/or software components for implementing the methods.
US07673863B2	Sheet post-processing apparatus In a sheet post-processing apparatus to perform a folding processing to a sheet bundle, a folding roller drive motor to drive a pair of folding rollers is PWM driven, and its speed is changed according to the sheet type or sheet size and between a period before a blade comes in contact with the sheet bundle, a period when the blade is being inserted between the folding rollers after coming in contact with the sheet bundle, and a period when folding is being performed by the folding rollers.
US07673857B2	Structured packing and use thereof At least one section of structured packing where the length of the section is about 1 m to about 6 m; and where the specific surface area of the structured packing of the section is greater than 500 m2/m3, is used in a vapour/liquid contact column operating in locations where environmental conditions adversely affect steady state operation of the column to reduce maldistribution of liquid in the column under motion. The structured packing section has particular application offshore on a buoyant platform where tilt of the column out of vertical alignment due to the rolling motion of the platform can significantly affect the efficiency of the column.
US07673850B2	Safety guard for elevator machine A safety guard apparatus for an elevator machine having a brake and a sheave for engaging one or more hoist ropes rotatably driven by the elevator machine, the safety guard apparatus consisting of a sheave guard including a front sheave wall, a back sheave wall and a pair of oppositely disposed side sheave walls defining a generally rectangular structure adapted for substantially enclosing the sheave of the elevator machine, and a cover guard releasably secured to the sheave guard and including a front cover wall, a back cover wall and a top cover wall through which the one or more hoist ropes and the sheave can be viewed. The safety guard apparatus further including a hoist rope guard releaseably secured to at least one of the pair of oppositely disposed side sheave walls of the sheave guard, wherein the hoist rope guard including a lower portion pivotally coupled to a upper portion for substantially enclosing the one or more hoist ropes extending from the sheave.
US07673849B2	Unibody hydraulic nut A unibody hydraulic nut for tensioning multiple threaded fasteners includes an unibody containing two or more pistons to generate a clamping load, castellated locking collars with angled vertical castellations to engage a socket with matching castellations to enable easy turning by remotely operated means to capture the clamping load, internal hydraulic ports contained within the unibody linking each piston, seals to maintain the hydraulic pressure within the multiple annular pressure areas and an external hydraulic pressure port extending through the hydraulic nut unibody to the first pressure area and adapted to be connected to an external pressure source.
US07673848B1	Pry bar sliding fulcrum assembly A pry bar sliding fulcrum assembly having a fulcrum and saddle which slidably mates with a conventional prybar and which provides a greater force onto a work material than the conventional prybar alone. The pry bar sliding fulcrum assembly easily and quickly slides away from the work material when a conventional prybar function is desired and slides toward the work material when an enhanced application force or greater prybar end displacement is required. The assembly uniquely mates with or is held with the prybar end whereby the assembly retains a static position relative to the prybar during use.
US07673841B2	Hangar bar for recessed luminaires with integral nail A hangar bar assembly for a recessed luminaire is disclosed. The hangar bar assembly includes a first hangar bar member having a first attachment structure disposed on an end thereof, and a second hangar bar member having a second attachment structure disposed on an end thereof, the second hangar bar member being adjacent to the first hangar bar member. The first and the second attachment structures each include a first wall having a first fastener aperture and a second wall having a second fastener aperture, the first and second fastener apertures being formed about a common central longitudinal axis.
US07673833B2	Protective shield assembly for space optics and associated methods A protective shield assembly capable of being deployed from a launch vehicle is provided, and methods for assembling and deploying the protective shield assembly are also provided. The protective shield assembly includes a shroud, and a flexible sheet of material within the shroud. The flexible sheet of material is capable of substantially conforming to a contour of at least a portion of the launch vehicle to provide a protective barrier.
US07673831B2	Small unmanned air vehicle system for deploying and towing a sensor in a tow medium and methods related thereto Embodiments of the invention are directed to an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system and a small unmanned air vehicle (SUAV) system for deploying and towing a sensor in a tow medium, and to methods related thereto. A UAV-sensor towing package comprises a fixed-wing UAV including a control and signal processing platform, a long range data RF link operably connected to the control and signal processing platform, a UAV wireless data link operably connected to the control and signal processing platform, and a tow body deployment system operably connected to the control and signal processing platform; a tow line attached at an end thereof to the UAV; a tow body attached to another end of the tow line; and a communications link including a transmitter/receiver component coupled to the tow line, and a T/R wireless data transmission link (194) operably connected with the transmitter/receiver component and the UAV wireless data link.
US07673825B2	Machine for shredding/collecting drugs and drug packaging incident to permanent disposal A drug and/or drug packaging shredding/collecting machine includes a cabinet defining an interior chamber which can be accessed through a front opening for housing and storing a container lid and container incident to the shredding of drugs and drug packaging by a shredder carried by a top wall of the cabinet. The top wall also includes a non-shredable drug/drug packaging opening which includes a flexible inlet guard. A door of the container includes a storage area for plastic locking ties which, after the lid is slid to a nested position with respect to a channel/flange of the container can lock the two together through registered openings thereof thereby preventing inadvertent/accidental spillage and/or providing an indication of pilfering.
US07673823B2	Food processor lid A lid for a bowl of a food processor for processing a relatively large size or large volume of foodstuff including a top lid wall and a feed tube extending from the top lid wall along a feed axis. The feed tube including an inner feed surface defining a feed cavity and a mouth for accessing the feed cavity. A feed tube lid is movably secured to the mouth of the feed tube. A food pusher is movably mounted to the feed tube lid. The food pusher and feed tube lid cover the mouth of the feed tube when the feed tube lid and food pusher are in a working position. The food pusher is movable relative to the feed tube in first and second directions in the working position. The first direction is generally parallel to the feed axis and the second direction is generally perpendicular to the feed axis.
US07673816B1	Aerosol assemblies for spray texturing An aerosol assembly for dispensing texture material. The aerosol assembly comprises a main container assembly, a secondary container, and a conduit. The main container assembly comprises a main container containing texture material, an aerosol valve assembly, and an actuator member. The aerosol valve assembly is operable in a normally closed configuration and an open configuration. Displacement of the actuator member places the aerosol valve assembly from the normally closed configuration to the open configuration. The conduit is connected between the main container and the secondary container to allow fluid flow between the main container and the secondary container. When the actuator member is displaced to place the aerosol valve assembly into the open configuration, the pressurized fluid within the secondary container enters the primary container to force texture material out of the main container.
US07673809B2	Thermostat relay control The present invention, in illustrative embodiments, includes methods and devices for reducing power consumption in a thermostat by adjusting pulse levels (duration and/or voltage) that are used to control an HVAC relay in light of variations of ambient conditions or other relay conditions. In some illustrative embodiments, an ambient condition is observed using existing thermostat features, such as, for example, a temperature sensor, and used to adjust pulse parameters.
US07673799B2	Card reader for use with web based transactions A card reader for use in web based transactions is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for establishing a secure connection between a card reader and a server, the method including receiving a first challenge request, generating a response to the first challenge request using a first encryption key, sending the response to the first challenge request, sending a second challenge request, receiving an encrypted response to the second challenge request, verifying the encrypted response to the second challenge request; and, if the encrypted response is verified, reading data card information from a data card, the data card information including an intrinsic magnetic characteristic and recorded data on the data card, generating a magnetic fingerprint based on the intrinsic magnetic characteristic, and sending the magnetic fingerprint to authenticate the data card.
US07673791B2	Method and apparatus for creating and exposing order status within a supply chain having disparate systems The present invention describes a method and system for creating and exposing order status within a supply chain of trading partners having disparate systems. A trading partner exchange (TPE) interfaces with each of the disparate systems and gathers information pertaining to a particular transaction. The information can be made available to an access platform through an access platform interface. Initially, a transaction is reported to the TPE where it is assigned a unique identifier. Subsequent activities pertaining to the transaction which are reported to the TPE by the trading partners can be linked to the unique identifier. By using the access platform, a customer or any trading partner can acquire the status of a particular order from the TPE.
US07673789B2	Carton with opening feature and blank A dispensing carton includes a dispenser section having a deformation pattern provided therein. The deformation pattern facilitates removal of the dispenser section during opening of the carton.
US07673784B2	High production welding fixture A welding fixture for supporting first and second workpieces in a coaxial relationship along a workpiece axis relative to each other includes a base, a left clamp on the base for holding a first workpiece, and a right clamp on the base for holding a second workpiece on an opposite side of a welding plane in a coaxial relationship with the first workpiece. The fixture also includes a left handle on the base for operating the right clamp, and a right handle on the base for operating the left clamp.
US07673779B2	Combustion chamber distance control combustion-powered fastener-driving tool A combustion-powered fastener-driving tool includes a combustion-powered power source including a cylinder head and a combustion chamber defined by the cylinder head, a valve sleeve and an upper surface of a reciprocating piston, the valve sleeve reciprocable relative to the cylinder head between a rest position and a pre-firing position. The valve sleeve has a range of positions between a first sealing position in which the combustion chamber is closed, and said pre-firing position in which the valve sleeve is prevented from further movement. A lockout device is associated with the power source and has an actuated position configured for preventing the reciprocation of the valve sleeve beyond the first sealed position to open the combustion chamber, but permitting movement of the valve sleeve from the first sealed position to the pre-firing position until the piston returns to a piston pre-firing position post combustion.
US07673772B2	Method for dispensing medications A medication dispenser provides automation to the steps of locating and acquiring unit-based doses of certain medications to be administered to a patient. The dispenser includes a frame and one or more cartridges that may be mounted onto the frame. A set of slots sized for holding unit-based doses of medication extend through a body portion of the cartridge. A movement device is also positioned relative to the frame and is configured to induce movement of selected unit-based medication doses out of associated slots in the cartridge, so that the dispensed doses may be retrieved.
US07673753B1	Educational dish assembly An educational dish assembly includes a base that includes a bottom wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to and extends upwardly from the bottom wall. A dish includes a lower wall and a perimeter wall that is attached to and extends upwardly from the lower wall. The lower wall is translucent to allow viewing through the lower wall. The dish has a same size and shape as the base to allow the dish to be positioned in the base and the perimeter wall abut and be aligned with the peripheral wall. At least one plate has an upper surface. The upper surface has indicia thereon to educate a child viewing the indicia. The at least one plate is positioned between the base and the dish.
US07673751B2	Retention packaging A retention packaging includes a support member having first and second sections each defining a support surface for receiving an object thereon for shipping; and a film disposed in covering relation to the support surface of the support member and retained to the support member at the first and second sections. The first and second sections are pivotably connected to one another along a fold line that substantially transects the support member. The film includes opposite ends each enclosing a respective opposite end of the support member and defining overlapping areas of the film that are permanently joined together. The first section of the support member extends between the overlapping areas of one of the opposite ends of the film, and the second section of the support member extends between the overlapping areas of the other of the opposite ends of the film.
US07673750B1	Educational food dish system An educational food dish system includes a food supporting member that includes a housing defining a base wall of the food supporting member. The housing includes a top wall, a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending between the top and bottom walls. The perimeter wall has a slot therein. The top wall is comprised of a transparent material. A plate has an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer edge. The plate is removably positioned between the top and bottom walls. Educational indicia are positioned on the upper surface.
US07673748B2	Package for containing and displaying elongate articles A package for containing and displaying elongate articles includes an elongate receptacle with an open end and a closed end. The receptacle has a sleeve disposed and sized for slidable movement over a portion of the elongate receptacle. The sleeve has an open end portion and a closed end portion that are connected by a hinge. The sleeve is disposed on the elongate receptacle and slidably moveable from a first position wherein the closed end of the sleeve substantially obstructs the open end of the receptacle, a second position wherein the hinge is disposed beyond the open end of the receptacle and the closed end portion of the sleeve is selectively moveable about the hinge so that when the open end portion of the sleeve is slidably returned toward the first position the closed end portion of the sleeve engages an outside surface of the elongate portion thereby forming a projection, so that when the package is placed on a horizontal surface so that the closed end of the receptacle and the sleeve closed end engage the horizontal surface, the open end of the receptacle is elevated above the closed end of the receptacle, thereby displaying and improving the accessibility of the elongate articles being contained within the receptacle.
US07673747B2	Molded pulp container The invention provides a container which can store a product which is constituted of a plurality of devices therein integrally and in a compact manner, and can also facilitate the packing of the product. A molded pulp container includes a storing recessed portion which has an opening at an upper surface thereof and is molded in conformity with a shape of a first material to be stored, a partition portion which is connected to the brim portion of the opening of the storing recessed portion and is foldable toward the storing recessed portion side to be placed on at least a portion of the brim portion of the storing recessed portion and, at the same time, forms a base on which a second material to be stored is placed, and a lid portion which is molded in conformity with a shape of the second material to be stored and is connected to the brim portion formed on the storing recessed portion and is folded to the storing recessed portion side to cover the partition portion from above.
US07673745B2	Case for portable electronic device Cases for portable electronic devices, including cases that provide support as well as protection. Cases may be configured to contain a video-capable electronic device (601) and may both protect the device and allow it to maintain a hands-free viewing position. Embodiments include a first panel (110) having an upper portion (111) and a lower portion (112) separated from each other by a hinge line (113), a second panel (120) spaced apart from and coupled to the upper portion of the first panel by a first sidewall (160) and a second sidewall (170), and a third panel (130) spaced apart from and coupled to the lower portion of the first panel by a third sidewall (180) and a fourth sidewall (190). The first panel is capable of being folded along the hinge line into a flexed position.
US07673741B2	Apparatus and method for conveying materials A conveyor apparatus and method for conveying materials in which the conveyor belt has chord members located along each belt side. The chord members are adapted to fit within a slotted track assembly whereby the chord members slide relative to the track assemblies when the conveyor is actuated.
US07673733B2	Packaging apparatus including product metering system In a packaging system for packing cases with product, a product metering system is provided. The product metering system includes a first product lane along which a first product travels and a second product lane along which a second product travels. The second product is different from the first product. A first movable barrier has a first position that obstructs progress of the first product along the first product lane and a second position that allows progress of the first product along the first product lane past the first movable barrier. The first product lane and second product lane merge into a first common lane downstream of the first movable barrier, wherein when the first movable barrier is in the first position only the second product is metered to the first common lane.
US07673731B2	Two-way clutch A two-way clutch has a rotational driving unit, a rotational driven unit, a roller interposed between the rotational driven unit and a collar, which is a fixed member and is not rotatable. A recess is formed in an inner peripheral surface of the collar, so that the roller is engaged with the recess. As a result, a locked condition between the rotational driven unit and the collar by means of the roller is not easily released. Therefore, the rotational driven unit is stably held at its locked position, even when a high vibration, a high load and/or a large pulsation is applied to the rotational driven unit.
US07673730B2	Coolant distribution device A coolant distribution device for a wet-running clutch device and comprising several coolant distribution surfaces along which coolant is conveyed outwards in the radial direction. In order to increase the service lifetime of a wet-running clutch device the coolant distribution surfaces are implemented so that the coolant conveyed outwards in the radial direction has different axial coolant spray-off points and/or coolant spray-off devices.
US07673725B2	Disc brake system A disc brake system comprises a mounting hub and at least one disc supported by the mounting hub. The mounting hub has a center portion and an outer portion substantially perpendicular to the center portion and defines a central axis extending perpendicular to the center portion. A plurality of grooves comprising a U-shape are defined within the outer portion and are spaced radially about the central axis. Each of the grooves extends axially relative to the central axis. A bearing is disposed in each of the plurality of grooves and operatively connects the mounting hub and the disc such that the bearing rotates about a bearing axis and moves axially within the groove in response to axial movement of the disc.
US07673720B2	High-performance muffler assembly with multiple modes of operation A high-performance muffler assembly for exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The muffler assembly comprises an elongated casing having an inlet port and an exit port, a first pipe disposed within the casing and having an inlet end in fluid communication with the inlet port and an outlet end selectively fluidly connected to the exit port of the casing, and a first valve mounted within the casing. The first valve is selectively movable between a closed position and an open position for regulating an exhaust gas flow through the first pipe. The muffler assembly is operable in a number of different modes of operation including a high-performance mode, an exhaust braking mode, a reverse-flow mode, etc., determined by the positions of the first valve of the muffler assembly.
US07673707B2	Drilling apparatus and system for drilling wells A device for boring a well. The device is attached to a motor that has a power shaft for imparting rotational movement. The device comprises a driver operatively connected to the power shaft, with the driver containing a tubular body, a first bit having a first end connected to the driver so that rotational movement of the driver is imparted to the first bit, and a sleeve disposed about the power shaft, and wherein the sleeve has a radial shoulder. The device further comprises a housing disposed about the driver and a second bit attached to the housing. A plurality of nozzles is operatively placed within the driver, and the nozzles deliver fluid flow to the second bit. The device may further include a planetary gear anchored to the radial shoulder, and wherein the planetary gear is adapted for imparting rotation from the driver to the housing in a counter radial direction.
US07673703B2	Hand-held power tool having main and handle housings with a connection device for connecting the housings A hand-held power tool having a main housing (4) in which a tool spindle (10) is at least partially located, and a handle housing (16) on which a handle (18) is formed, includes a connection device (28) for securing the handle housing (16) to the main housing (16) and having a first connection element (50) with a first engagement member (58) loosely engageable with a second engagement member (52) associated with the main housing (4), and a second connection element (48) with a handle-side locking element, a main housing side locking element, and a further locking element for formlockingly connecting the handle-side locking element and the main housing side locking element, whereby absence of loose engagement of the first and second engagement members is ensured upon formation of the formlocking connection of the handle-side and main housing side locking elements.
US07673701B2	Power tool having control means for monitoring screw tightening operations A power tool includes a driving unit for performing screw tightening operations; a motor for rotatably driving the driving unit; a rechargeable battery pack; a trigger switch for turning on and off the motor; and a control circuit, accommodated in a main body of the power tool, for monitoring the screw tightening operations. The control circuit has a screw tightening completion detection unit for detecting completion of a screw tightening operation, a screw tightening count unit for counting the number of detected tightening operations, a screw tightening number setting unit for presetting the number of screws to be tightened, a screw tightening completion notifying unit for notifying completion of the screw tightening operations when the number of detected tightening operations reaches the preset number. Further, the screw tightening number setting unit and the screw tightening completion notifying unit is disposed at a lower front portion of a grip portion.
US07673700B2	Push block for a scraping device An earthmoving scraping device including a bowl-shaped frame having a front end, a back end, and opposing first and second side walls extending upwardly from a floor. The first side wall, the second side wall, and the floor define an interior of the frame for transporting material over a surface. A mechanism is configured for adjusting the frame to change the height of the frame relative to the surface. A push block is mounted adjacent the back end of the frame and includes a bumper. A linkage system pivotally connects the push block to the back end of the frame and is configured to maintain a consistent height of the push block from the surface when the mechanism adjusts the frame to change the height of the frame relative to the surface.
US07673696B1	Fire protection rooftop sprinkler system A sprinkler system that can be quickly deployed for preventing brush and forest fires from engulfing a home. The system includes at least one assembly with a sprinkler on a base. The base straddles the roof ridge. The base adjusts to different roof pitches. The assemblies include hose interfaces to allow connection of a hose routed from a water supply. A fire retardant solution or fire fighting foam can be added downstream of the supply. The sprinklers wet the rooftop and a portion of the surrounding grounds. An optional pump and independent power supply can be added to route water from an available reservoir.
US07673689B2	Dual flapper barrier valve The present invention generally relates to a wellbore tool for selectively isolating a portion of a wellbore from another portion of the wellbore. In one aspect, a method of selectively isolating a zone in a wellbore is provided. The method includes the step of positioning a downhole tool in the wellbore. The downhole tool includes a bore with a first flapper member and a second flapper member disposed therein, whereby each flapper member is initially in an open position. The method also includes the step of moving the first flapper member to a closed position by rotating the first flapper member in one direction. Further, the method includes the step of moving the second flapper member to a closed position by rotating the second flapper member in an opposite direction, whereby each flapper member is movable between the open position and the closed position multiple times. In another aspect, an apparatus for isolating a zone in a wellbore is provided.
US07673687B2	Cement compositions comprising crystalline organic materials and methods of using same A method of servicing a wellbore comprising placing a composition comprising cement, water, and a heat sink material into a wellbore, and allowing the composition to set, wherein at least a portion of the heat sink material undergoes a phase transition by absorbing at least a portion of the heat released upon hydration of the cement. A method of completing a wellbore, comprising forming a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising permafrost, gas hydrates, or both, preparing a cement composition comprising cement, water, and a heat sink material, placing the cement composition into an annulus formed between a casing and the wellbore, and allowing the composition to set, wherein at least a portion of the heat sink material undergoes a phase transition by absorbing at least a portion of the heat released upon hydration of the cement, thereby reducing an amount of heat transferred from the annular cement to the surrounding permafrost and/or gas hydrates.
US07673686B2	Method of stabilizing unconsolidated formation for sand control The invention provides a method for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore. The method comprises the steps of: (a) introducing a composition through the wellbore into the subterranean formation, wherein the composition comprises: (i) a solvent consisting essentially of an aqueous dissolvable solvent comprising any solvent that is at least 25% by weight soluble in water, wherein the solvent is from about 90% to about 99.9% by weight of the composition; and (ii) a curable resin, wherein the curable resin is from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the composition; wherein the curable resin and the solvent are mutually selected such that, for the ratio of the curable resin to the solvent, the curable resin is soluble in the solvent; and (b) installing a mechanical sand control device into the wellbore either before or after introducing the composition into the wellbore.
US07673677B2	Reusable ball seat having ball support member Apparatuses for restricting fluid flow through a well conduit comprise a housing having a longitudinal bore and a reusable seat disposed within the bore. The seat comprises a slidable element, a fixed element, a plug element support member, a seat inner diameter, and a return member to urge the slidable element toward the run-in position. The plug element support member has a retracted position when the seat is in the run-in position and an extended position when the seat is in the set position. A plug element adapted to be disposed into the bore and landed on the seat to restrict fluid flow through the bore and the well conduit is used to move the plug element support member from the retracted position to the extended position, thereby providing support to the plug element landed on the seat.
US07673674B2	Polish rod clamping device A polish rod clamping device, for use as part of a wellhead production pumping tree to secure a polish rod. The device includes a pressure-containing body forming a central vertical and opposed first and second side bores. A pair of clamping rams are positioned in the side bores for sliding movement therealong, each clamping ram having a front and a rear end, the front ends of the clamping rams being configured to accommodate at least a portion of the polish rod between their front ends when the clamping rams are advanced across the central bore. The front end of at least one of the clamping rams is configured with a vertical V-groove for gripping the polish rod. The invention extends to the V-groove rams themselves and to composite wellhead assemblies containing the V-groove clamping device.
US07673672B2	Non-brazed insert for heat exchanger A heat exchanger has a plurality of tubes and a plurality of fins alternatively arranged to define a core portion of the heat exchanger. A side plate is arranged at opposite sides of the core portion. Each end of the tubes and side plates extend through a core plate. Each core plate mates with a respective tank to define a sealed chamber. The ends of the tubes are disposed within the sealed chamber. The ends of the side plates and disposed outside the sealed chamber. This allows for a non-brazed connection between the core plates and the side plates.
US07673659B2	Spill avoidance system and venting system for a storage tank using pressure transfer methods A system for preventing overflow in a storage tank which is fillable via a nozzle inserted in a fill passage includes a nozzle stop such that when an end of the nozzle contacts the nozzle stop, the nozzle is in a fill position. The system also includes a sealing device within the fill passage, which forms an inner sealing space via a first seal around the nozzle below a hole in the nozzle and a second seal around the nozzle above the hole in the nozzle. An airtight passage connects the inner sealing space to an interior of the storage tank. The system may also include a venting system including a tank vent passage between the storage tank and an end of the fill passage and an atmospheric vent passage between the tank vent passage and the external atmosphere.
US07673657B2	Method for operating and managing a re-fueling business Disclosed is a method for operating and managing a re-fueling business. The method includes contracting with a customer to fuel a fuel consuming vehicle for the customer, providing a locking device with a fuel tank of the vehicle, the locking device being unlockable by the re-fueling business and the customer, and transporting a fuel containing structure from the re-fueling business to various locations of the customer's vehicle whenever a fueling of the vehicle is desirable to the business and the customer, the locations being remote of the business, unlocking the locking device of the fuel tank upon arrival at the locations, filling the fuel tank with an amount of fuel from the fuel containing structure upon the transporting of the fuel container to the locations, and re-locking the locking device after filling the fuel tank with the amount of fuel.
US07673656B2	Woven terry fabric with non-moisture-transporting synthetic filament yarns A woven terry fabric (10) includes a non-moisture-transporting synthetic filament yarn (F) in at least one of the fill or the warp. The pile loops (T) comprise natural fibers. The fill yarn, warp yarn, and pile loop yarn are woven together in a three-pick terry-weave pattern.
US07673650B2	Sensitive fluid balancing relief valve A pressure regulating valve comprising a diaphragm for control of process pressure is provided. The diaphragm has a reference pressure on a first side and a process pressure on a second side. The second side is engagable with a process void and at least one vent void such that when the process pressure is below the reference pressure the diaphragm is engaged with the vent void. When the process pressure is above the reference pressure the diaphragm is not engaged with the vent void.
US07673649B2	Vacuum thermal insulating valve The present invention provides a vacuum thermal insulating valve that may be used at high temperature in gas supply systems or gas exhaust systems, and also may be made substantially small and compact in size owing to its excellent thermal insulating performance. With a vacuum thermal insulating valve comprising a valve equipped with a valve body and an actuator, and a vacuum thermal insulating box that houses the valve, the afore-mentioned vacuum thermal insulating box S is formed by a square-shaped lower vacuum jacket S5 having a cylinder-shaped vacuum thermal insulating pipe receiving part J on a side and with its upper face made open, and the square-shaped upper vacuum jackets S4, which is hermetically fitted to the lower vacuum jacket S5 and with its lower face made open.
US07673642B1	Single pole freestanding shelter A lightweight, freestanding tent type shelter using a single removable arch pole tensioning the roof canopy between ground-level platform poles that form a perpendicular base for the arch pole. The platform poles are already-carried or found pole type objects such as trekking poles, sticks, skis, paddles and the like already at hand or easily located at a campsite, and the lower side edges of the canopy are provided with connectors for securing the canopy to the platform poles. The canopy has an embedded roof strut crossing the arch pole to add headroom and transfer arch tension to the front and rear ends of the shelter.
US07673641B2	Rolling/braking cane A cane with a base having at least one wheel and an aperture, a support shaft having a user adjustable length and a first end connected to the base, a brake disposed within the aperture having a user adjustable length and at least one grip connected to the support shaft and the grip being operably engaged with the brake.
US07673633B2	Apparatus and method of inhibiting perianal tissue damage A perianal support device is provided that is configured to inhibit the formation and/or progression of tissue damage in the perianal region of the body. A method is provided to apply the perianal support device to patients during childbirth to inhibit the formation and/or progression of tissue damage in the perianal region of the body.
US07673629B2	Safety system and method of a tunnel structure A breathable air safety system and method having at least one fill site is disclosed. In one aspect, a method of safety of a tunnel structure is disclosed. A prescribed pressure of an emergency support system is ensured to be within a threshold range of the prescribed pressure by including a valve of the emergency support system to prevent leakage of breathable air from the emergency support system. The prescribed pressure of the emergency support system is designated based on an authority agency that specifies a pressure rating of the breathable air apparatus. An air extraction process is expedited from the emergency support system by including a RIC (rapid interventions company/crew)/UAC (universal air connection) fitting to a fill panel to fill a breathable air apparatus.
US07673614B2	Internal-combustion-engine combustion condition detection apparatus and combustion condition detection method An internal-combustion-engine combustion condition detection apparatus is provided with an ignition means that makes an ignition plug ignite a fuel; an ignition control means that controls the operation of the ignition means; an ion-current detection means that detects an ion current generated; an ion current detection range setting means that sets an ion-current detection range; a preignition detection means that detects preignition within a detection range to be set; a leakage current detection range setting means that sets a leakage-current detection range; and a leakage current determination means that determines whether or not a smolder exists, based on a current detected, within a detection range to be set, by the ion-current detection means. The ignition control means includes a non-combustion-stroke ignition control means; the leakage-current detection range set by the leakage current detection range setting means is set within the non-combustion stroke.Accordingly, both a smolder detection and a preignition detection can securely be performed.
US07673613B2	Controller for internal combustion engine An ignition timing is established according to alcohol concentration of fuel detected by an alcohol concentration sensor. In a torque control where a throttle opening is controlled in such a manner that an estimated torque follows an target torque, when obtaining the estimated incylinder filling air quantity, the throttle opening is varied by correcting the estimated incylinder filling air quantity according to the detected alcohol concentration. Thereby, the variation in torque due to the correction of the ignition timing according to the alcohol concentration can be compensated by the variation in torque due to the correction of the estimated incylinder filling air quantity (the throttle opening). The variation in output torque due to difference of the alcohol concentration of the fuel is decreased.
US07673607B2	Tappet carrier for barrel engine A tappet carrier for a barrel type internal combustion engine includes a body having a central bore that is coaxial with a camshaft of a barrel engine. The tappet carrier further comprises a plurality of radially extending bores that are continuous with the central bore so as to allow mechanical communication between the tappets and the camshaft.
US07673604B2	Engine A valve mechanism drives an exhaust valve with a valve lifter and an exhaust camshaft. Oil is supplied to a journal surface of the camshaft and a bearing supporting the camshaft journal surface through an axial oil passage formed in the camshaft. The bearing is defined by a cam cap and a bearing main body. An oil collecting recess is defined between cam cap and the bearing main body. An auxiliary delivery passage extends from the oil collecting recess to a sidewall of the bearing that is located adjacent to the valve lifter. A guide wall is formed in the sidewall to lead oil from an opening of the auxiliary delivery passage to a part of the valve lifter that generates a striking noise in the absence of buffering oil.
US07673594B2	Water-cooled internal combustion engine having radiator A water circulation structure of a cylinder block having a compact layout of piping connecting an engine body and a radiator. A water-cooled internal combustion engine is provided with an engine body including a cylinder block and a cylinder head and a radiator. The radiator is disposed to be separated, in a prescribed direction, i.e. in a rightward direction, from the engine body. A cooling water outlet portion is open to a cylinder head water jacket and is provided in the end portion of the cylinder head. The cooling water outlet portion being connected with an inlet pipe for leading the cooling water flowing out of a cylinder block water jacket into the cylinder head water jacket to the radiator. The cooling water outlet portion is disposed to the right closer to the radiator than a chain chamber.
US07673592B2	Vehicular cooling system A cooling system includes a radiator for radiating heat of a coolant heated by a fuel cell, and a first main pipe line and a second main pipe line which allow coolant to circulate between the fuel cell and the radiator. A thermostat is located midway through the second main pipe line and adapted to switch the circulation path for the coolant, and a bypass pipe line. The radiator includes a first tank connected to the first main pipe line, a second tank connected to the second main pipe line, and a cooling portion provided between the first tank and the second tank and adapted to perform heat exchange with the outside air. The thermostat is connected to the first tank by the bypass pipe line. The resulting configuration facilitates pipe line routing and increases the freedom of the layout of components.
US07673588B2	Retractable rotatable pet tether A rotatable and retractable pet tether is disclosed. The pet tether has a spiral stake. A handle is attached to the spiral stake. A tether housing is rotatably mounted on the spiral stake. The tether housing has an opening therein. A tether line is disposed in the housing and adapted for deployment from the opening in the housing. A retraction mechanism is arranged in the housing for retracting the tether line after deployment. An attachment mechanism is connected to the tether line for attaching the tether line to a pet collar.
US07673586B2	Birdcage attachments A birdcage accessory for holding food items is configured with a body and a perch displaceably mounted to the body to adjust its position relative to variously shaped and dimensioned food items.
US07673566B2	Method for use in a wellbore An apparatus for use in a wellbore comprises a heat insulating container having an inner space and having a structure defining a hollow containing a vacuum. The apparatus further comprises a reflective layer arranged on a surface of the heat insulating container to reflect heat for reducing radiated heat originated in the wellbore from reaching the inner space. Also, a signal-activated detonator is provided in the inner space of the heat insulating container.
US07673565B1	Infra red proximity fuzes An infra-red proximity fuze system for a homing missile is provided that has Mercury Cadmium Telluride detector cells cooled to at least −40° C., and a frequency response range of 5-7 microns, so as to be sensitive to target skin radiation due to kinetic heating and insensitive to jet-exhaust plume radiation. Three optics/detector modules are equidistantly spaced around the missile axis and each has first and second detector elements the three first elements being connected in a common channel to constitute a guard beam and the three second elements being likewise connected to constitute a firing beam, the guard beam field being displaced angularly from the firing beam field in the forward missile axis direction by about 6°.
US07673561B1	Nut-cracking apparatus A nut-cracking apparatus that is compact and efficient cracks nuts at high production rates. The nut-cracking apparatus includes an endless conveyor and delivers nuts from a hopper to a delivery point. The nuts are engaged at the delivery point by a nut-cracking unit which cracks the nuts. The endless conveyor includes nut pockets which are made up of separate nut pocket segments that are movable from open to closed positions. The nut pocket segments are in an open position where the nuts are cracked to provide ample room for cracking of the nut.
US07673557B2	Coffeemaker having several infusion heads A coffeemaker composed of: a plurality of infusion heads that can each receive a predetermined quantity of a product to be infused; a common hydraulic circuit including, connected in series: a water reservoir; a flow meter for measuring the rate of flow of water from said reservoir; a pump; a heater; and a plurality of parallel outlet tubes each connected to an outlet of the heater, the heater and the pump being operative to deliver water from the reservoir to the heater through the flow meter; a control unit connected to the flow meter and the pump being for controlling the operation of the coffeemaker; and distribution devices connected in series with each of the outlet tubes and connected to be controlled by the control unit for delivering water or steam to each of infusion head as a function of signals received from the flow meter.
US07673554B2	Tie rod-type booster comprising a reinforced sealing ring Pneumatic brake booster (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a moving internal partition (14) provided with a cup (38) covered by a sealing diaphragm (42) connected to the inner periphery of the casing (12), of the type in which the booster (10) is intended to be fastened to a bulkhead (34) of an associated vehicle by means of tie rods (24) of axial orientation passing through the casing (12) of the booster (10) and through the moving partition (14), and of the type in which the cup (38) has an aperture (46) associated with each tie rod (24) that accommodates a sealing ring (48) which is, on the one hand, fastened to the cup (38) and which is, on the other hand, slideably mounted on the associated tie rod (24), characterized in that the cup (38) comprises a tubular element (50) which contains the aperture and which extends at least axially in part around the sealing ring (48).
US07673551B2	Aerial-supported procedure for the detection of landmines The present invention refers to an aerial-supported procedure for the detection of landmines, duds or similar explosive bodies using a fluorescence procedure, including aerial-supported geo-referencing of the detected locations by means of a digital terrain model.
US07673547B2	Miter saw capable of displaying angle coincident with predetermined angle A miter saw including a base, a turntable, and a circular saw unit supported to the turntable. A turntable is rotatable about its axis, and a rotation limit mechanism is provided for limiting rotation of the turntable at a predetermined angle such as 45 degrees. A rotation amount detection unit is provided for detecting rotation amount of the turntable. A control unit is provided for displaying the rotation angle at a display. The control unit computes correction value that makes a rotation angle to be displayed at the display to be coincident with the predetermined rotation angle when the turntable is rotated to the predetermined rotation angle. The rotation angle is computed based on the correction value and on the rotation amount detected by the rotation amount detection unit.
US07673546B2	Microtome having a cooling device A microtome (1), having a knife (9) for sectioning a specimen (5) for subsequent microscopic examination, is described. The microtome (1) comprises a cooled specimen holder (2) for receiving the specimen (5), the specimen holder (2) being connected to a coolant circuit (3). Additionally associated with the specimen holder (2) is a cooled thermal conduction plate (4) that can be placed over the specimen (5).
US07673544B2	Separation and receiving device for spent nuclear fuel rods Disclosed is a separation and receiving apparatus for a spent nuclear fuel rod. The spent nuclear fuel rod is mounted and downwardly transferred by a pin. At this time, a blade peels the hull of the spent nuclear fuel rod. The hull and a pellet positioned therein are separated by a separator. The peeled hull and pellet are each received in respective receiving vessels. Accordingly, since the hull and pellet made of uranium oxide (UO2) may be automatically separated and received in each respective vessel, safety and automation may be guaranteed.
US07673543B2	Apparatus for making a fracture cut between the cup and the safety ring in plastic caps An apparatus for making a fracture cut between the cup and the safety ring in plastic caps, which comprises rotary elements provided with at least one mandrel that can be arranged inside the cup and is suitable to produce the rolling, about its own axis of symmetry, of the side wall of the cup along the cutting edge of a blade for making the cut, the blade being associated with an inlet path portion adapted to axially offset the cup with respect to the rotation axis of the mandrel by clamping the side wall against the mandrel; the apparatus also comprises elements for recentering the cup with respect to the rotation axis.
US07673537B2	Parallel manipulator A manipulator for supporting and displacing an object comprises a base. A moving portion supports the object. Two articulated mechanisms each having five rotational joints between links, with each articulated mechanism being connected to the base by two of the rotational joints. The moving portion is connected to both the articulated mechanisms by moving-portion joints. The articulated mechanisms and moving-portion joints are arranged with respect to each other between the base and the moving portion so as to constrain movement of the moving portion to displacements in two translational degrees of freedom and two rotational degrees of freedom with respect to the base. Four actuators are each operatively connected to a different one of the rotational joints between the base and the articulated mechanisms so as to selectively control the displacements of the moving portion in any one of the four degrees of freedom of the moving portion.
US07673531B2	Multivolume pipette A multivolume pipette is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the multivolume pipette includes a pipette body, a piston disposed within the pipette body, a first chamber, a second chamber, and a valve. The first chamber and the second chamber are defined at least in part by an inner wall of the pipette body and the piston. The valve is capable of placing the second chamber in fluid communication with an external environment to provide a first volume range of the multivolume pipette. The valve is also capable of placing the second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber to provide a second volume range of the multivolume pipette.
US07673526B2	Apparatus and method of lensing an ultrasonic beam for an ultrasonic flow meter A method for sensing flow within a pipe having an internal passage disposed between a first wall portion and a second wall portion is provided, comprising the steps of: 1) providing a flow meter having at least one ultrasonic sensor unit that includes an ultrasonic transmitter attached to the first wall portion and an ultrasonic receiver attached to the second wall portion and aligned to receive ultrasonic signals transmitted from the transmitter; 2) selectively operating the ultrasonic transmitter to transmit a beam of ultrasonic signal, which beam has a focal point such that within the pipe, the beam is either colliminated, divergent or convergent; and 3) receiving the ultrasonic signals within the beam using the ultrasonic receiver. An apparatus operable to perform the aforesaid method is also provided.
US07673524B2	Method and apparatus for measuring a parameter of a fluid flowing within a pipe having a sensing device with multiple sensor segments A method and apparatus for determining at least one characteristic of a fluid flowing within a pipe is provided and includes at least one sensing device. The at least one sensing device includes a first sensor segment having a first segment polarity and being associated with a first outer portion of the pipe and a second sensor segment having a second segment polarity and being associated with a second outer portion of the pipe, wherein the first sensor segment and the second sensor segment generate sensor data responsive to the fluid flowing within the pipe. The apparatus further includes a processing device communicated with the at least one sensing device, wherein the processing device receives the sensor data and processes the sensor data to determine the at least one characteristic of the fluid.
US07673520B2	Device and method for testing electronic components The invention relates to a device for testing electronic components (3) with at least two mechanical transfer elements (5a, 5b), of which each can be loaded in each case at a dedicated loading position with an electronic component (3) and with a common test position (7), into which the two transfer elements (5a, 5b) can be brought. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for testing electronic components with at least two mechanical transfer elements (80a, 80b), of which each can be loaded in each case at a common loading position (88) with an electronic component (3) and with a common test position (89), into which the two transfer elements (80a, 80b) can be brought. The invention also relates to the associated method.
US07673511B2	Vibration gyro A vibration gyro having a high accuracy, no vibration leak, and high S/N.The width of a detection leg of a resonator used in the vibration gyro is less than ⅗ of the width of drive legs. The length of the detection leg is larger than the length of the drive legs. As a result, the distance between the detection electrodes is decreased by comparison with the conventional vibration gyro and, therefore, the detection signal is increased and S/N is raised. Furthermore, increasing the leg length brings the natural vibration frequency of out-of-plane vibration of the drive legs close to the natural vibration frequency of the detection leg, providing good coupling and reducing vibration leak to the support section. As a result, Q is increased and S/N is accordingly further increased.
US07673510B2	Dual axis vibration rate gyroscope A dual-axis rotational rate sensor having two vibratory masses coupled to a restoring element and driven in a resonant counter-phase motion, wherein the two masses vibrate with equal but opposite amplitudes along a single axis. The vibratory structure also accommodates motion of the masses in a plane orthogonal to the vibratory axis. Measurement of the motion of the masses in two axes in this plane provides signals directly responsive to rotation of the sensor about two orthogonal axes. Measurement and drive is facilitated by the use of magnetic masses and electromagnetic drive and sense transducers.
US07673497B2	System, methods, and compositions for detecting and inhibiting leaks in transmission systems System, methods, and compositions are described for detecting and inhibiting leaks of a transmission system. The composition may include one or more transmission system sealants and one or more light activated compounds. The transmission system sealant(s) inhibit one or more of the leaks in the transmission system. One or more of the light activated compounds are visible when activating light is directed towards a portion of the exterior of the transmission system.
US07673495B2	Method for calculating a friction-slippage curve for a tire A method for calculating a μ-slippage curve for a tire based on laboratory data derived from characteristic values of a used compound, of the road surface and a vehicle without producing a complete tire, and a method for calculating a μ-slippage curve for a tire include the steps: calculating a friction force between rubber compound and a rough surface based on a friction coefficient for different slippage values and lateral positions of the tire wherein the friction coefficient is calculated depending on a sliding velocity between the rough surface and a tread block and on a temperature of the tire. After calculating the friction force, the motion of a tread block depending on pressure distribution during the movement of the tread block through the contact area and on characteristics of a tire body is calculated. The resulting μ-slippage curve is composed from effective μ-slippage values for different slippage values wherein effective μ-slippage values are calculated based on the friction force and a nominal force derived from the pressure distribution.
US07673489B2	Forging method, forged article and forging apparatus An axial intermediate portion of raw material is held with a holding die in a state in which the intermediate portion is prevented from being enlarged in diameter. The axial end portions of the raw material is inserted in forming dented portions formed at axial end portions of the holding die. The scheduled diameter-enlarging portions are inserted in insertion passages formed in guides. Then, the scheduled diameter-enlarging portions are simultaneously pressed with punches to fill the material of the scheduled diameter-enlarging portions in corresponding forming dented portion while moving each guide in a direction opposite to a moving direction of each punch, thereby enlarging each scheduled diameter-enlarging portion.
US07673483B2	Anti-theft device for a motor vehicle, such as an electronic anti-theft device This anti-theft device includes a stator (12), a rotor (14) mounted to rotate in the stator (12) between a first extreme angular position known as the “off” position and at least one second angular position, and a member (22) for interrupting the return travel of the rotor (14) from the second position to the “off” position in a position known as the “non-return” position interpolated angularly between the second position and “off” position, the interrupting member (22) being electrically deactivatable. The anti-theft device further includes a mechanical member (32) for deactivating the interrupting member (22).
US07673478B2	Needle bed with fluid channels A needle bed (1) that comprises strips (4) in order to form needle channels (5), with the strips being configured in a comb-like manner. Between the individual teeth of this comb, recesses (28 through 37) are formed, said recesses being disposed to supply fluid to the needle channel (5) and to drain said fluid. The groove (12) that accommodates the strip (4) forms a distributor space where the distribution of the fluid to be supplied to the knitting tools takes place over a section of the strip (4), which section is preferably greater than half the length of the strip.
US07673477B2	Optical fiber processing apparatus An optical fiber processing apparatus comprises reactors (3, 3a, 3b and 3c) that accommodate optical fiber, a single suction pump (7) having an intake port (19) and an outlet port (21), a storage chamber (5) into which deuterium containing gas is delivered, and a circuit portion (9, 59) including a plurality of valves disposed on a plurality of passages connecting the reactors, the suction pump and the storage chamber. The circuit portion includes a first channel for returning deuterium containing gas inside a reactor chamber to the storage chamber, a second channel for delivering air to the reactor chamber thereby rendering the pressure inside the reactor chamber atmospheric pressure, a third channel for decompression of the reactor chamber and a fourth channel for supplying deuterium containing gas in the storage chamber into the reactor chamber.
US07673476B2	Compact, modular method and apparatus for liquefying natural gas A compact and modular cryogenic method and apparatus for liquefying natural gas. The liquefaction process is highly efficient and requires no external refrigeration system, and the apparatus is small enough to be transportable from one remote site to another. A compressed natural gas feed stream is cooled and then expanded to form a bi-phase stream comprising a first refrigerated vapor component and a first liquid component. The first liquid component is then separated from the bi-phase stream and expanded to form a second bi-phase stream comprising a second refrigerated vapor component and a second liquid component. The second liquid component is then introduced into a means configured for storage and transport. The remaining feed stream can then be recycled, and at least a substantial portion of the original feed stream can be processed into liquefied natural gas (LNG). The first and second vapor components are recycled through the system and comprise at least a portion of the feed stream in the repeated steps.
US07673474B2	Refrigerator with integrated water supply A refrigerator with a thermally insulated housing and integrated elements, suitable for the supply of potable water which can be connected to an external potable water supply. The surfaces of the integrated elements, provided for coming into contact with the potable water, are at least partly provided with a finish which is effective against microbes and/or fungi.
US07673470B2	Refrigerator According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.
US07673456B2	Turbomachine combustion chamber with helical air flow A turbomachine combustion chamber includes an inner annular wall, an outer annular wall surrounding the inner wall so as to co-operate therewith to define an annular space forming a combustion area, a plurality of fuel injector systems including pilot injectors alternating circumferentially with full-throttle injectors, and at least one air admission opening out into the upstream end of the combustion area in a substantially longitudinal direction. The outer wall has a plurality of pilot cavities extending between the two longitudinal ends of the outer wall and extending radially towards thereof, the pilot cavities being fed with air from outside the combustion chamber in a common substantially circumferential direction. Each pilot injector opens out radially into a pilot cavity, and each full-throttle injector opens out radially between two adjacent pilot cavities.
US07673454B2	Combustor of gas turbine and combustion control method for gas turbine In a combustor, divisional fluid passages of a first group, and divisional fluid passages of a second group are present on an inner peripheral side, and divisional fluid passages are also present on an outer peripheral side, and swirl air flows are gushed from the divisional fluid passages. When the total amount of fuel supplied to the combustor is small as in a speed increasing state or in a low load state, fuel is injected only into the divisional fluid passages of the first group. Since a fuel injection region is limited to a position on the inner peripheral side, particularly, a specific position, the concentration of a fuel gas comprising a mixture of fuel and air is lean, but is higher than a flammability limit concentration, even when the total amount of fuel is small.
US07673448B2	Diesel exhaust article and catalyst compositions therefor A self-cleaning diesel exhaust particulate filter system is disclosed wherein burn-off of collected particulate matter is accomplished at normal exhaust gas temperatures, the filter system being provided with a catalyst mixture of a co-formed ceria-zirconia composite and, optionally, a base metal oxide, the presence of which allows regeneration of filters at temperatures that are readily achieved in diesel exhaust systems, including operating conditions that are at low load where lower exhaust temperatures exist.
US07673441B2	Slider chains A slider chain including a plurality of sliders joined together by divisible bridging pieces (30), and including a linking device at each end in order to interconnect the ends of two slider chains so as to form a longer chain overall. The sliders include an attachment mechanism which is not of cylindrical revolution.
US07673440B2	Energy guiding chain An energy guiding chain with a plurality of links, which are connected to each other in articulated fashion, is provided where the links consist at least partly of an electrically conductive material that permits the discharge of electrical charges over at least part of the chain length, and is characterized in that the links are designed such that they are in contact with each other over the full pivoting angle on contact areas that move relative to each other and are in permanent contact and/or in that at least one connecting element connecting two or more links to each other in each case is provided, and in that the contact areas, and the areas of the links or the connecting element connecting them, form a continuous conductivity path with low electrical resistance, which extends at least over several links and permits use of the chain in ESD protection zones.
US07673436B2	Loading assembly for packaging system A loading assembly for a packaging system includes a carriage coupled and reciprocally moveable relative to a support structure. The carriage is moveable relative to the support structure along a longitudinal axis in a first direction and a second direction opposite said first direction. A continuous loop configured with a plurality of spaced apart receptacles is moveably supported by the carriage. The loop includes a first portion that is moved at a continuous speed relative to the support structure, and a second portion that is alternatively moved and stopped relative to the support structure. Various methods of loading a receptacle are also provided.
US07673426B2	Window sill flashing The present invention is directed towards a window sill flashing comprising a base having a substantially rectangular shape. A front flange projects perpendicularly downward from a front edge of the base and at least one side flange extends vertically from a side edge of the base. The side flange includes a front surface. The window sill flashing is made from a rigid homopolymer vinyl film.
US07673421B2	Building construction product directed to minimizing water accumulation at floor joints An embodiment of a stucco wall device is configured to provide alignment in uneven wall joints, allow water to drain out of the wall, protect against water infiltration, and permit movement between the two sides of a joint. An embodiment includes two pieces which form a seal and a sloped screed with weep holes for directing water out of and away from the wall. A male leg of the second piece slides between the first piece and the wall, allowing the two pieces to move relative to each other while preserving a seal against water infiltration. Other embodiments include one-piece stucco wall devices which also allow movement between the joint members and are configured to protect against water infiltration into a wall. Portions of a wall device may be adjusted or bowed in order to assist in alignment at an uneven wall joint.
US07673420B2	Method and apparatus for making a corner bench in a tiled shower A corner bench for a shower is constructed by placing a beam diagonally between adjacent walls of the shower. The ends of the beam are supported on the upwardly facing edges of tile pieces which are attached to the shower walls. The tile pieces are placed on the walls such that their upper edges are horizontal and are coplanar with the top of the beam. A triangular platform is then placed on top of the beam and the upper edges of these tile pieces to create the bench. Tile is then placed on top of the platform and the front of the beam to finish the bench.
US07673406B2	Hanging laminar label and roll of labels Hanging laminar label having a main portion of essentially rectangular sheet of a width H and with a longitudinal central appendage, which is essentially rectangular and of a narrower width h, wherein the appendage is attached to the main portion by a connection neck that has a central portion of a constant width z and the distal end of the appendage has a wider section with a portion of a constant width Z, the sum of the widths of the main portion and the appendage H+h being equal to the sum of the widths of the connection neck and the wider section of the appendage z+Z.
US07673402B2	Self-propelled work machine A self-propelled work machine, in which the load of the work unit increases according to an increase in the travel speed. The self-propelled work machine includes electric motors for driving the travel units, an engine for driving the work unit, a work drive instruction unit for instructing the work unit to turn on, and a control unit for controlling the electric motors. The control unit reduces the actual speed of the electric motors by using PID control so that the actual rotational speed of the engine returns to a reference rotational speed when the actual rotational speed of the engine falls below the reference rotational speed in the state in which the work unit is turned on by the work drive instruction unit. The reference rotational speed is a reference value used when the work unit is driven by the engine.
US07673401B1	Snow removal apparatus The snow removal apparatus has a tubular handle having a first end spaced apart from a second end, a threaded cap selectively fitted to the second end. A cavity within the handle is extended from the second end to proximal to the first end. The scoop has a scoop front spaced apart from a scoop back, a first side spaced apart from a second side, the scoop back affixed to the first end of the handle. An outlet exits the handle first end and is joined to the scoop back. The scoop has a floor extended from the scoop back to the scoop front and from the first side to the second side. A button is disposed on the handle for selectively releasing a material from the cavity into the scoop, such materials useful in snow melt and in aiding auto traction, for example. The bristles disposed on the scoop front are especially useful in snow removal from auto glass.
US07673400B2	Golf shoe outsole The present invention is directed towards a golf shoe outsole that is comprised of a generally soft, and flexible base having a plurality of raised portions on the lower surface of the base, a pair of flexing supports that are placed on the lower surface of the base in an abutting relationship with the raised portions, a pair of chassis that fit over and about the base and a two-piece arch support that acts as a shank for the arch section of the base. The base has a plurality of raised portions that are of a size shape, and number to correspond and mesh together with a plurality of cleat containing pods that are molded to both chassis. The two-piece arch support allows for the necessary rigidity in the arch area of the shoe which is vital for a good golf swing.
US07673392B1	Powered protrusion cutter An apparatus for clipping a protrusion of material is provided. The protrusion may, for example, be a bolt head, a nut, a rivet, a weld bead, or a temporary assembly alignment tab protruding from a substrate surface of assembled components. The apparatus typically includes a cleaver having a cleaving edge and a cutting blade having a cutting edge. Generally, a mounting structure configured to confine the cleaver and the cutting blade and permit a range of relative movement between the cleaving edge and the cutting edge is provided. Also typically included is a power device coupled to the cutting blade. The power device is configured to move the cutting edge toward the cleaving edge. In some embodiments the power device is activated by a momentary switch. A retraction device is also generally provided, where the retraction device is configured to move the cutting edge away from the cleaving edge.
US07673390B2	Method and apparatus for manufacturing hub assemblies A method and apparatus for assembling bearings and a stub into a bore of a hub. The apparatus includes a block defining a receiving position for the hub. A feed mechanism arranges plurality of bearings in the form of an annular array. A first mandrel is axially displaceable toward one side of the hub to push the annular array of bearings into the bore of the hub. A second mandrel is axially displaceable toward an opposite side of the hub to push a stub within the annular array of bearings in the bore of the hub. The stub includes at least one outwardly biased detent for retaining the bearings in the hub.
US07673386B2	Flip-chip component production method The electrical and mechanical connection between a component chip and a carrier substrate having electrical wiring is realized by means of bumps. A support frame that is adapted in its height to the height of the bumps is arranged between the carrier substrate and the component chip and has a planar or planarized surface, so that it contacts closely to the bottom side of the component chip. Different covers are proposed for the additional encapsulation.
US07673369B2	Floor cleaning apparatus with filter cleaning system A floor cleaning apparatus includes a dirt collection vessel and a suction generator carried on the housing. The dirt collection vessel includes a dirty air inlet, a dirt collection chamber and a clean air outlet. A filter is received in the dirt collection vessel. The filter includes multiple sections. Each section provides a discrete airflow pathway. In addition, the floor cleaning apparatus includes a flow control valve assembly including a clean air inlet. The flow control valve assembly is selectively displaceable between two positions. In the first position dirty air is serially moved by the suction generator through the dirty air inlet, the dirt collection chamber, the filter and the clean air outlet so that dirt is collected in the dirt collection chamber. In the second position clean air is moved by the suction generator through the clean air inlet, a selected one of the sections of the filter, back through the other sections of the filter and then through the clean air outlet. In this way dirt is cleaned from the selected filter of the filter.
US07673361B2	Unitary sheet and air filter for cleaning implement A cleaning implement having a dirt bin for collecting debris from a floor, a cleaning sheet and an air filter. The cleaning sheet and air filter comprise a unitary assembly. When the user discards a soiled sheet, the soiled air filter is likewise discarded. This process prevents the air filter from becoming unduly clogged, and diminishing the performance of the cleaning implement.
US07673359B2	Drum-type washer control method and drum-type washer using the same An apparatus and method control dewatering in a drum-type washer so that a dewatering cycle can be selectively modified by a user selection and so that noise and vibration on a dewatering cycle can be reduced. the apparatus includes a key input for selecting a wash course, the selected wash course corresponding to one of a plurality of selectable dewatering courses; memory for storing at least one eccentricity detection reference value per the selectable dewatering course; and a controller for performing the selected wash course based on the stored at least one eccentricity detection reference value. The method includes selecting a wash course, the selected wash course corresponding to one of a plurality of selectable dewatering courses; storing in memory at least one eccentricity detection reference value per the selectable dewatering course; and performing the selected wash course based on the stored at least one eccentricity detection reference value.
US07673355B2	Rapid multi-action rescue sled A flat, sturdy rescue board is shaped like a sled. The long edges of the board platform have wings for attaching handles or arm hooks to the platform. A rotatable handle is attached to each wing. Each handle can rotate ninety degrees only. The handles are normally parallel to the top of the board surface but may be rotated ninety degrees so that they are perpendicular to the board. When a victim is loaded onto the board the handles may be used to extricate the board and victim from the dangerous situation. Semi-circular arm hooks may also be attached to each wing. When a victim is loaded onto the board, his arms are positioned above the hooks. When the board is pulled to safety the victim remains secured to the board by the arm hooks. The board also has lower rails attached to the bottom of the board for sliding the board along ice or on long the ground.

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